The environment of Nauru, a raised atoll located in the central Pacific Ocean (0° 32′ S, 166° 56′ W), was
devastated by mining of phosphate “rock” during the twentieth century. Some 100 million tonnes of
phosphate material has been removed, leaving more than 80% of the island as a dolomite
pinnacle–dominated karrenfeld. Based on fieldwork examining sites unmined at that time, laboratory
studies on undisturbed profiles, aerial photographs, and old mining maps, a picture of what the soil
Radio Interview:
Alex Feary is a NZ ecologist that undertook his Masters dissertation on field work in Nauru. The masters was for Victoria University, New Zealand. He particularly noted the abundance of invasive species and the need to manage them.
The restoration of Nauru’s mined areas is fundamental to the future wellbeing of the people and ecosystems of Nauru. Extensive open cast phosphate mining on Nauru over the last 100 years has led to soil losses and landscape degradation to the extent that over 70% of this South-Western Pacific island state is now uninhabitable and almost all productive land has been lost.
The environmental issue of greatest concern to the people of Nauru is the degradation of the mined phosphate lands. In all of the series of consultations that were carried out between the people of Nauru and the various teams of technical experts to ascertain the feasibility of rehabilitating the island, it was constantly emphasised that the total degradation of topside, including localized inland, water shortages and coastal erosions are problems that need to be addressed for sustainable development.
Map of the Nauru island landcover, with country-level summary of the different classes.
The map shows the different landcover classes in Nauru Island.
Map of the Nauru Island Key Biodiversity Areas
Locality of Nauru Island hydrology feature - Buada Lagoon.
Circular cover letter that was sent out on 1st December 2021
Proposed Project Objective: Enhanced use of data for decision making in the environment sector throughout the Pacific region. Building on the tools and momentum the Inform project established, this scaled up project will expand the user base and fill significant gaps including in situ monitoring, increased partnerships between the environment ministries and other ministries, increase use of spatial tools, and the establishment of standardise environmental standards and key indicators for key resources.