About the Site • Search Page

This site was created from the Pacific Protected Areas Website maintained by the Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum and available at http://www.pbif.org/PPADB/default.asp. The Website is also being distributed on CD to make the information readily available to computer users who do not have access to the Internet or lack sufficient bandwidth to easily access the Website. The CD is being distributed by the Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum in partnership with the Pacific Island Roundtable for Nature Conservation and will be updated periodically. The CD includes all information available on the Website as of 28 September, 2007. Additional copies can be obtained by writing to:

The Pacific Protected Area Database (PPAD) is a work in progress to document all PAs in the Pacific islands region of Oceania (Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia). A PA is defined by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) as "an area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means.” This definition encompasses all types of protected areas from government managed strict nature reserves to areas managed by customary landowners.

The foundation for the database was a list of protected areas created at the 7th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in the Cook Islands in 2002. Information was then gathered from various sources including UNEP-WCMC, Reefbase, UN-Earthwatch, SPREP, WWF-Ecoregions 200, CI-PNG database, the Action Strategy for Nature Conservation in the Pacific Islands Region, and numerous country sources and independent site studies. After initial compilation, the PPAD went through an expert review process as part of the Polynesia-Micronesia Ecoregional profile process led by Conservation International. Relevant sections of the database were sent to a selection of organizations, experts and governments of each country for review, and to update and verify database information.

Since that time, more than 100 protected areas have been added to the database bringing the total number of records to just over 500. In late 2005, the database was turned over to the Pacific Island Roundtable for Nature Conservation and is currently hosted by the Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum. There are currently 42 fields covering a wide spectrum of information including PA location, biophysical and social information, and management activities.

The Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum (PBIF) was established in 2003 under the Pacific Science Association's task force on Biodiversity and Conservation as a mechanism to support collaboration on common biodiversity interests in the region. Since that time PBIF has been implementing the program of work articulated by regional representatives. The program calls for the development of links to existing biodiversity information, building partnerships, and working to develop and improve information products, services and capacity for the region. The Forum serves as a participant node to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to integrate regional activities with similar global efforts. More information can be found on www.pbif.org or by contacting Dr. Mark Fornwall at mark_fornwall@usgs.gov or Rhyn Davies at rdavies@usgs.gov.