Pacific island nations highlight their unity at global biodiversity conference

07 October 2014, Pyeongchang Korea, CBD COP12 - The Pacific island nations have showcased their unity at the 12th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, sharing with over 190 governments the joint framework on nature conservation and protected areas.

Recently endorsed at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and highlighted during the Third UN International Conference on Small Islands Developing States, the Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in the Pacific Islands region 2014 - 2020 is being celebrated yet again at the international arena.

"This is a significant milestone achievement for the Pacific Islands region mainly because the new Framework is closely aligned to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans," said Ms. Atelaite Matoto, Director for Environment of Tonga, who made a statement at the CBD COP 12.

"This is probably the first for any sub-region and the next six  6 years will be an exciting one for us as we embark on this journey to implement our commitments through this Framework.  We cannot work alone on this journey thus the need for us to work together."

Ms. Atelaite Matoto, Tonga

The regional framework was developed with the contribution and input of over 800 stakeholders from throughout the Pacific islands region at a conference hosted by Fiji in December last year and was raised during a global discussion on strengthening support to parties to meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Concerns have been raised by the fast rates of loss of biodiversity and the slow pace at which actions are happening to help address this.  Actions that are to be carried out to meet the global agreement of 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

To help the Pacific islands meet the Aichi BiodiversityTargets, the regional framework document helps encourage an integrated approach, coordinating work at biodiversity at national and regional level in the Pacific islands in partnership with stakeholders.

"Tonga extends an invitation to governments, development partners, organisations and institutions who wish to partner and collaborate with us," said Ms. Matoto.

"This includes our regional organisations such as the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to ensure the successful implementation of the Framework and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans which supports the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in the Pacific Islands region."

The Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in the Pacific Islands region 2014 - 2020  will be shared at the CBD COP 12 during a special Pacific islands event.

14 Pacific island countries are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity with Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu currently in Korea attending the CBD COP12 from 6 - 17 October, 2014.  Soon to arrive are the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Fiji on the map, guiding coordination of UN convention

Pacific delegates at the CBD COP 12 in Korea

Ms. Eleni Tokaduadua front row second from left

6 October 2014, Pyeongchang Korea, CBD COP12 - Fiji represents the Pacific islands that are parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity on the Conference of the Parties Bureau.  This group acts as a board to provide guidance to the CBD Secretariat in coordinating any intercessional meetings and conferences over a two year period.

Fiji is one of two representatives for the Asia Pacific region on the CBD COP Bureau, along with Thailand, having been nominated by Pacific island parties at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Hyderabad India in 2012.

Ms. Eleni Tokaduadua, Principal Environment Officer of the Department of Fiji is now coming to the end of her term as a representative on the CBD COP Bureau:

"One of the key objectives of the bureau which I thought was very relevant was to see how the Convention on Biological Diversity is mainstreamed into other sectoral programmes at the national level, and other UN conventions.  Partnerships has also been a driving force in Bureau discussions over the last two years as well as we progress the work and actions under this Convention."

As a representative of the Pacific islands, Eleni Tokaduadua has also worked to ensure that decisions made regarding funding, participation and resources available from the Convention on Biological Diversity is shared equally, that the Small Islands Developing States and the Least Developed Countries receive their fair share.

As Fiji's term on the COP bureau comes to an end, the Pacific will not be represented on the bureau until the 14th Conference of the Parties in 2018.  There are four sub regions within the Asia Pacific Region each taking turns two sub regions at a term.

Pacific delegates support drafting of statements at the Asia Pacific Meeting

"I'm privileged to be a member of the COP Bureau serving the Pacific region and I thank them for their confidence in me however it's important to flag a crucial point for future bureau members," said Tokaduadua.

"We as a sub region can improve.  While our Pacific representative drives our perspectives in this process, it is also important for countries to note that we as Pacific island parties also have a responsibility to meet our obligations, whether they be submitting reports in on time or abiding by travel arranged.  When we as a region don't have a positive profile due to our failure in meeting our obligations, that also reflects badly on the COP Bureau representative.  This is important to keep in mind."

Ms. Eleni  Tokaduadua is the head of the delegation of Fiji at the CBD COP 12 from 6 - 12 October in Pyeongchang, Korea.  At the Opening Plenary, Ms. Tokaduadua was elected as Rapporteur of the COP12 meeting which is quite a significant position to hold.  14 Pacific island countries are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity with Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu currently in Korea attending the CBD COP12.  Soon to arrive are the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Fiji calls for united global action to meet 2020 biodiversity targets

6 October 2014, Pyeongchang Korea, CBD COP12 - In 2010 a global strategic plan for biodiversity was agreed upon with targets, known as the Aichi Targets, to be met by 2020 to halt the rate of biodiversity loss.  In a newly launched Fourth Edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook which provides a progress report on the state of global biodiversity today, governments were told that bold and innovative action is urgently required if the world is to meet these targets. 

Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 shows that three out of the 20 Aichi Targets are on track, with five of the targets needing much more effort and action.

In a statement to the floor at the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity today, Fiji stressed their concern for the lack of progress and called upon global united action.

"Fiji is indeed happy to note that there has been significant progress towards meeting some components of the majority of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The report states that some target components, such as conserving at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas, are on track to be met," stated Mr. Rahul Chand on behalf of the Government of Fiji.

"However Fiji remains concerned and worried that the progress seen may not be sufficient to achieve the target that has been set for 2020.  Despite Fiji taking several measures on a national level we may yet find it difficult to achieve the targets by 2020 however we remain optimistic and hopeful that we as a global family will do everything possible to stop the decline of our biodiversity."

Aichi Target 10 aims for the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimised so as to maintain their integrity and functioning by the year 2015.

According to the Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 Report, pressures from both land-based and marine activities continue to increase which makes it unrealistic to believe the target will be met by 2015 as agreed.  

The percentage of reefs rated as threatened increased by nearly 30% in the decade to 2007, the latest period assessed. Overfishing and destructive fishing methods are the most pervasive threats affecting around 55 percent of reefs.  One-quarter of reefs are affected by coastal development and pollution from land, including nutrients from farming and sewage.  Around one-tenth suffer from marine-based pollution.

This is just one of the summary of results of 20 Aichi Targets in all, featured in the Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 Report.

Mr. Rahul Chand, Fiji

"If we need to double our efforts and double our resource mobilisation then so be it," said Mr. Chand.

"The report notes dramatic increases in relevant activities, initiatives and necessary mechanisms put in place by Parties to halt biodiversity loss, yet extrapolations for a range of indicators suggest that based on current trends, pressures on biodiversity will continue to increase at least until 2020, and that the status of biodiversity will continue to decline.  That is not good news and we hope the key messages within the report provide a strong basis for our deliberations during the week."

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and its 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, were agreed by the international community in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, and have since been re-affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly and at the Rio + 20 summit in 2012.

The Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 Report was launched today  at the CBD COP 12, one year before the halfway point of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 - 2020.

The CBD COP 12 is from 6 to17 October in Pyeongchang, Korea.  14 Pacific island countries are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity with Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu currently in Korea attending the CBD COP12.  Soon to arrive are the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

To download the full report please visit: www.cbd.int/gbo4
To read the full CBD Press release on the GBO 4:  http://www.cbd.int/doc/press/2014/pr-2014-10-06-gbo4-en.pdf