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The 4,500 islands of this remote Pacific biodiversity hotspot include Micronesia, tropical Polynesia, and Fiji, and are home to more than 3 million inhabitants in 20 different countries and territories. Despite its expansive ocean coverage, the land area of the hotspot covers only 47,239 square kilometers or about the size of Switzerland.
The biological diversity of the Polynesia-Micronesia Hotspot is one of the most highly threatened in the world, with just 21 percent of the region’s original vegetation remaining in pristine condition.
Threats
Socioeconomic changes and population growth in the region have meant more dependence on cash-crop production, increased deforestation, over-harvesting of resources, and the use of destructive harvesting techniques. These practices have significantly reduced and degraded existing habitats of threatened species.
Strategy
CEPF investment in this hotspot will begin with the selection of a regional implementation team.
Four strategic directions will guide CEPF's approach in this hotspot. Each project must be linked to one of the strategic directions to be approved for funding:
A full description of these strategic directions and related investment priorities can be found in the ecosystem profile for this region.Polynesia-Micronesia