Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
mining. Continued efforts to harvest these resources require heavy subsidy by the host
governments.
The international community should encourage the Phoenix Islands Project to promote and
cooperate with the Central Pacific World Heritage Project (UNESCO World Heritage Centre
2004).
In 2006, Kiribati designated the Phoenix Islands marine protected area that was to be funded
by an endowment fund (Anon 2006). The chronology of events to make the Phoenix Islands
a protected area was presented.
ABARIRINGA (CANTON, KANTON)
In mid-1979, the USAF withdrew even its token caretaker force leaving the island
uninhabited again (Stack 1982). According to Garnett (1983a), a handful of i-Kiribati
remained on the island as caretakers.
The Americans left Abariringa (Canton) after 1979, the year of Kiribati’s independence
(Bataua 1989). Most of the good equipment there was shifted to Tarawa. There was also a
work force on Abariringa (Canton) to repair and maintain the remaining buildings and
machinery. When Kiribati became independent in 1979, the U.S. relinquished all claims to
Abariringa (Kanton) and Enderbury (Douglas and Douglas 1994).
In 1979, the U.S. disposed of their interests in the Phoenix Islands through the Treaty with
the Government of Kiribati (Skaggs 1994), but retained the right of joint utilization of
facilities it had constructed on Abariringa (Canton).
Onorio (1984) reported that the shore facilities on Abariringa (Canton) were better than those
in the Line group. However, they were deteriorating and needed to be used.
In 1985 there were 24 people living on Abariringa (Kanton) (Asian Development Bank
(2002).
In 1988, a household survey was conducted on Abariringa (Canton) (Yeeting 1988). All 5
households were surveyed (total population 18). The average number of people per
household was low because government employees there left household members (children
and working adults) in Tarawa where the schooling and work opportunities were better. This
survey focused on marine and fisheries issues.
In 1990, there were 45 people living on Abariringa (Kanton) (Asian Development Bank
2002, Statistics Office 1991). These were all i-Kiribati. Nine worked for the Government of
Kiribati (Statistics Office 1991). In that year (1990), the Government of Kiribati installed
firefighting equipment and refueling capacity at the airstrip on Abariringa (Canton) (Levy
1996). This was in order to provide emergency landing facilities between Tarawa and
Christmas Island.
In 1993, Abariringa (Kanton) was the only Phoenix Island with inhabitants (Neemia and
Thaman 1993).
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