10 February 2014: The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has announced the details of an expedition in the Vava’u archipelago in Tonga. The missions will conduct rapid biodiversity and ecological assessments (BIORAP) of both land and marine sites throughout the archipelago.

The expedition, a collaboration between Tonga and the Waitt Foundation, will take place in Tonga, from 13-28 February 2014. It will seek to identify sites within the archipelago that have high conservation value and could be added to Tonga’s protected area network. The expedition will also be a practical demonstration of Tonga’s commitment to the UN Convention for Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Island Biodiversity Programme of Work.

SPREP highlighted that the results of the expedition will provide all stakeholders with the information necessary to protect and manage their biodiversity and ecosystems. The Waitt Foundation is making available its research vessel. [SPREP News]