Turtles share message of hope for Pacific environment

Pacific Nature Conference Closing Bulletin 2013, Suva Fiji - The tags were contributed by Mr. George Balazs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hawaii-based research programme as a tribute to Mauigoa Lui Bell and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme region to further science based understanding of turtle migration for conservation.

"Satellite telemetry work has begun to unravel some of the mysteries associated with the travels of these ancient mariners. We have seen how the hawksbill, Lady Vini, navigated the EEZ's of seven Pacific island countries and territories covering nearly 4,500 kilometres in seven months," said Mr. David Sheppard.

"This information is crucial in helping us understand patterns of migration and consequently inform management decisions across countries and stakeholders including government agencies, communities and the public."

The voyages of Bulou ni Laucala and Adi Laumei Madiba through the Pacific islands will serve as a reminder of the need for collaboration and cooperation between SPREP members to ensure the survival of these ancient migratory animals in our waters.

To read more about the outcomes of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas.

In a symbolic marking of the end of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas, five turtles were tagged in Suva on Saturday 7th December and released.

The ceremony took place at the lower campus of the University of the South Pacific, to commemorate the dispersal of the vision, spirit and messages of the Pacific region for the future of our environment.

"The release of these turtles is symbolic of our hopes that the key messages and spirit of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas, will, like the turtles, travel far and traverse boundaries and be a point of focus for gathering multiple partner support for their implementation," said Mr. David Sheppard, the Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

Two of the five turtles were mounted with satellite tags and christened, Bulou ni Laucala after the conference and Adi Laumei Madiba in commemoration of the late Mauigoa Lui Bell and Nelson Mandela.

This special event of the conference was particularly significant, as it was an opportunity to again bid farewell to a great friend, Lui Bell, who was instrumental in the conservation of marine turtles across the Pacific islands region. Those gathered at the ceremony also paid tribute to another Pacific island champion for marine turtle conservation - George Petro, who passed away in late November.

9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas: A Success

By Justine Mannan, journalism student of FNU

Pacific Nature Conference Closing Bulletin 2013, Suva Fiji - The 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas has come to a closing after five days of meetings, plenary sessions and workshops.

Mr. David Sheppard, the Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), summed up the conference in one word – "outstanding."

"The participants are the ones who have made this event outstanding, through your active participation at all the events, through running such excellent side events, and by your active input to the Action Strategy and Declaration arising from this conference" Mr. Sheppard said.

Mr. Sheppard highlighted the issues facing the Pacific today such as loss of biodiversity, invasive species and climate change, together with the steps to help minimise the threats to our environment.

"The conference has underlined that better conservation and management of ecosystems is essential and that natural solutions must be a key front line response to climate and many of the other challenges facing our region."

"In the earlier conferences we looked to countries outside our region for our guidance and direction. Now this situation has turned as it is clear that the world is now looking at our region as a source of inspiration and guidance on nature conservation," Mr. Sheppard said.

Mr. Taholo Kami, the Regional Director Oceania, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), acknowledged everyone who has contributed to the success of the conference, from representatives of the communities, faith based organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and civil societies, Pacific island government representatives to the volunteers.

"Congratulations and thank you for hosting us with a great conference, thank you all for the celebration and the success" Mr. Kami said.

Fiji is now the Chair of the Conference until the next event in 4 - 5 years time.

Justine Mannan is a member of the Media Team providing coverage of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas from 2 to 6 December in Suva, Fiji. This is a partnership between the Fiji National University (FNU), University of the South Pacific (USP), SPREP and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) whereby a team of 10 journalism students are mentored by senior reporters as they cover the conference. This activity is funded by the Pacific Assistance Media Scheme (PACMAS).

9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas comes to a close

By Maryann Lockington, a journalism student at USP

Pacific Nature Conference Closing Bulletin 2013, Suva Fiji - Fiji's Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama called upon Pacific Islanders to take responsibility for their environment when making the closing statement at the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas.

Prime Minister Bainimarama was the chief guest at the closing event of the conference held in Suva Fiji from 2 to 6 December.

During his statement he said it was the duty of Pacific Island people to contribute to the conservation effort.

"For too long, our people have taken their beautiful surroundings and abundant natural resources for granted," he said.

"Paradoxically, we use the vast ocean around us as both a food source and a refuse dump. We take its abundance of seafood and give back sewage and garbage. None of us would dump rubbish in our own back yards yet think nothing of dumping it in the ocean."

Over 750 delegates were registered for the conference which is held every 4 to 5 years. The gathering helps provide direction and guidance to a Pacific regional action strategy on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas.

Also present among the delegates was Cook Island's Prime Minister Hon. Henry Puna, Palau's Minister for Natural Resources, Environment & Tourism Hon. Umiich Sengebau and Minister in Assistance to the President Hon. Tony de Brum.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said the outcomes of the conference should be enacted and Fiji was willing to be part of the action strategy.

"Together, we can build a grand coalition to achieve better outcomes than have been possible to date."

The conference came to an end on Friday after five days of intense presentations and discussions.

Maryann Lockington is a member of the Media Team providing coverage of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas from 2 to 6 December in Suva, Fiji. This is a partnership between the Fiji National University (FNU), University of the South Pacific (USP), SPREP and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) whereby a team of 10 journalism students are mentored by senior reporters as they cover the conference. This activity is funded by the Pacific Assistance Media Scheme (PACMAS).

Young people rising for the environment

By Maryann Lockington, journalism student at USP

Pacific Nature Conference Closing Bulletin 2013, Suva Fiji - A youth group based at the University of the South Pacific has called for support for youths and children as catalysts for environmental awareness.

Econesian Society representative Mr. Aman Narayan presented at a youth environment event on during the 9^th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas about youth involvement in advocacy.

“Our main statement is, include us, involve us and support us,” he said.

Mr. Narayan said it was important for youths to be heard and to have a platform to speak.

“The group is dedicated to perpetuate for Pacific youths and Pacific young leaders,” he said.

The Econesian Society is a group of young people that advocate for nature conservation and management.

“We aim for youths to value their traditional knowledge and marry it with scientific knowledge.”

The group was formed in 2007 after delegates returned from the Pacific Future Environmental Leaders Forum in Apia, Samoa which has now grown into the Pacific Emerging Environment Leaders (PEEL).

“The Econesian Society’s vision is to bring together the youths of the South Pacific and all over the Pacific region under one umbrella so that we can provide the capacity building they need to go back home and do what we do,” he said.

The group’s latest project, Honour Journey is based on traditional knowledge and preserving cultural identity.

“It is a form of teaching urbanized youths the importance of traditional knowledge and the preservation of their environment,” he said.

Maryann Lockington is a member of the Media Team providing coverage of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas from 2 to 6 December in Suva, Fiji. This is a partnership between the Fiji National University (FNU), University of the South Pacific (USP), SPREP and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) whereby a team of 10 journalism students are mentored by senior reporters as they cover the conference. This activity is funded by the Pacific Assistance Media Scheme (PACMAS).

Tokelau takes measures on marine resources

By Priya Chand, journalism student at USP

Pacific Nature Conference Closing Bulletin 2013, Suva Fiji - Tokelau has taken several measures to protect its marine resources to ensure that their future generations can enjoy the same natural luxuries, said one of the island nation's environment leaders Mr. Mika Perez.

Mr. Perez, who is Tokelau's Director of Natural Resources and Environment, said one measure was the marine sanctuaries that had been declared for the protection of specific marine mammals.

“Firstly, Tokelau has declared itself as a whale sanctuary and in 2011, declared itself as a shark sanctuary,” he said.

“This is done to save the sharks from becoming extinct.”

He said since the sanctuaries were declared, Tokelau had noted improvements in the marine resources in their water.

“We see more whales regularly around the islands more than before,” he said.

“It is definitely working and we are glad to see these whales in our waters.”

He said Tokelau's leaders saw it as their duty to work with other island nations to save the marine mammals from becoming extinct.

In terms of challenges, Mr. Perez said they faced many but tried their best to overcome it.

“One of the challenges is that we still have not got proper ways to enforce on locals the rules 

and regulations,” he said.

“There’s also the use of modern methods of fishing like using the fishing nets that could be harmful to the fisheries.”

However, he said major stakeholders like the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and several others helped Tokelau to build their capacity and manage their marine resources.

Mr. Perez said it was important for everybody to work together to give back to the future generation what the older generation had been gifted.

Priya Chand is a member of the Media Team providing coverage of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas from 2 to 6 December in Suva, Fiji. This is a partnership between the Fiji National University (FNU), University of the South Pacific (USP), SPREP and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) whereby a team of 10 journalism students are mentored by senior reporters as they cover the conference. This activity is funded by the Pacific Assistance Media Scheme (PACMAS).