Wetlands International has concluded a series of surveys of wetlands and waterbirds in major wetland systems across diverse bioregions and river basins of Australia. During 2007-9, Brisbane-based staff and associates documented the biodiversity assets, importance and management issues of poorly-known wetlands on the tropical coasts of central and north-west Queensland, the arid inland Lake Eyre Basin, and temperate south coast of Western Australia. Outcomes are now being used by managers in planning for investment in natural respource and water/coastal management. Reports of these investigations are available from several sources.

Wetlands International-Oceania (WI-O), in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), is hosting Fiji’s inaugural Conservation Science Forum from 5th – 7th of August, 2009. This is a three day event which will be held at Studio 6 apartments at 1-3 Walu street, Suva. Download the forum list of programmes.

The invasive fish species of Tilapia and Mosquitofish coming from badly constructed fish farms are diminishing native fish species in Fiji. This is the result of a six-year study to 20 catchments on the Pacific islands. ‘Invasive Alien Species’ is today’s International Day for Biological Diversity theme.

Surveys by scientists of Wetlands International Oceania, IUCN Ocenania and Paris Museum of Natural History in France confirmed that Samoa has a unique and highly threatened freshwater fauna. At least three new records of fish were recorded for Samoa including one (perhaps 2) potential new species to science.