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Project Leader	Prof. N. HARVEY Department of Geographical and Environmental Studies University of Adelaide South Australia 5005 AUSTRALIA Tel: +61-8-8303-5923 Fax: +61-8-8303-3772 Email: nick.harvey@adelaide.edu.au
Funding	US$ 22,930
Participating countries	Participants from the following countries were funded: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu

Brief introduction and background
It is apparent from a previous APN project (2000-11) that there is a paucity of atoll island coastal monitoring data, which can be used to assess the impact of global change in the Oceania region.  This is important for low-lying atoll islands, which are particularly sensitive to coastal change in response to storms and sea-level variation.  The limited monitoring data collected so far are mostly restricted to coasts with high human impact, thus contaminating any global change signal.

One of the main aims of the current APN project (2002-16) was to develop a regional research network and support mechanism for the collation, collection and analysis of atoll island change data.  It aimed to provide capacity building through training and development of atoll nation based research skills.  It also aimed to set up an 'on-ground' monitoring demonstration site as part of the first phase.

Outline of activities conducted

• Workshop, Fiji November 2002
  A workshop held in Suva (Fiji) from 23- 24 November 2002 was attended by 9 participants from 5 countries including the facilitators, Prof Harvey (Australia) and Dr Kench (New Zealand); 3 participants from Fiji; and key beach monitoring/surveying personnel from two atoll nations (Kiribati and Tuvalu).  Participation from a third atoll nation (Marshall Islands) was not possible because of flight cancellations.  The workshop provided an outline of basic techniques/ methods for surveying /monitoring, and the subsequent analyses and synthesis of this data in respect to global change and coastal management policy.  The workshop also developed mechanisms for implementing a Pacific Atoll Coastal Monitoring Analysis Network (PACMAN) which will allow participants to exchange information, provide a more integrated regional approach to atoll island change, and enable participants to provide follow-up support for each other over the long term.

• PACMAN  Meeting and Fieldwork, Tuvalu, January 2003
  The first PACMAN meeting held in Funafuti (Tuvalu), from 20-23 January 2003, was attended by 5 participants from 5 countries (Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand and Tuvalu).  An atoll island monitoring site was established on the uninhabited island of Fatato, south of the main island Fongafale on Funafuti atoll.  Geo-referenced benchmarks were set up along with detailed profiling and island plan survey.  Assistance was received from the Lands and Survey Department (Ministry of Natural Resources) in Tuvalu.

• PACMAN  Meeting, Marshall Islands, February 2003
  The second PACMAN meeting is planned for Majuro (Marshall Islands), from 18-23 February 2003, to be undertaken entirely by atoll island nation monitoring personnel from 3 countries (Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu).  This meeting is to establish PACMAN links with the Marshall Islands as the third atoll nation in the network.

• The production of an APN Atoll Monitoring Workshop Proceedings;
• The setting up of the Pacific Atoll Coastal Monitoring Analysis Network (PACMAN);
• Creation of a PACMAN website (linked to the START-Oceania site);
• Completion of an 'on-ground' geo-referenced atoll island baseline survey; and
• Two PACMAN meetings in separate atoll island nations.

It is also planned to produce a publication based on this work in 2003.

Future directions and follow-up work
The PACMAN approach is intended to be largely self-sustaining within the Pacific atoll island-nations.  However, initial encouragement and support can be provided in a number of ways.  First, it is intended to encourage further individual training through mechanisms such as the START Fellowship plan.  Second, there is a need to maintain contact with the PACMAN initiative through the APN-Oceania liaison officer and the START-Oceania Secretariat, including website maintenance.  Third, it is recognized that personnel costs for over-stretched monitoring staff in atoll island-nations may impact on the success of the PACMAN program.  For this reason it may be appropriate to provide a small amount of funding in the first few years to assist with PACMAN-related monitoring costs.