Voices of the Pacific@Ramsar COP11

Talie Foliga on Left

13 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - 

Mr. Talie Foliga, Samoa

What have you learnt at this COP?

“The diversity of the issues, the diversity of thought from each region regarding the deliberations on several draft resolutions which were put forward for the COP to discuss so it is very interesting to hear what other parties have said especially the DR1. (Draft Resolution 1 – Institutional hosting of the Ramsar Secretariat)”

What advice do you have for others attending the next COP?

“I think my only advice is whoever is being appointed to attend the COP I think that there is a need to really look into the issues especially the issues that are related to our region and also to our respective boundaries, so when you come to the issues of discussion in the plenary then you are well prepared for what is going to be discussed and understand the process of the plenary.”

Ms. Nunia Thomas (Left) - image courtesy of QuartzFilm.Ro

Ms. Nunia Thomas, Fiji

What have you learnt at this COP?

“I learnt that there is a lot of tools available through the Ramsar Secretariat on how we can implement the Ramsar Convention, particularly in capacity building – we attended a talk on capacity building where people can talk about capacity building issues they had and Ramsar can think of ways to help come up with ways to address these.

A lot of other countries are facing the same problems as the Pacific in terms of implementing and aligning the convention with legislation and the other conventions to which they are signatories.  There is a challenge for everyone to align their conventions like with the Convention on Biological Diversity but I think everyone is moving forward to make it happen.”

What advice do you have for others attending a Ramsar COP?

“Prepare your documents well, read through the draft resolutions, get it nationally consulted, nation- wide consultation with the Department of Environment and other relevant ministries, in Fiji we have the Office of the Solicitor General, so it looked at by the lawyers because when you are talking at this level you are legally committing your nation, your country, its good if people back home are aware of what you are committing to at the Convention.”

Ms. Pua Michael, Palau

Ms. Pua Michael, Palau

What have you learnt at this COP?

“This is my first Conference of the Parties ever for any convention so it was a very big eye opener for me from the rules and procedures to everything - it was a big eye opener.  Another thing I learnt is there is help out there you just have to be willing to look for it and I think if for Palau’s case if you be a little bit more ambitious and look for the help I think we can find it to come back to our place and do implementation on the ground.”

What advice do you have for others attending the next COP?

“You need to read all the documents and the draft resolutions to give yourself the background to come to the meeting and also make sure that whatever decision you make is in line with the people back home.”

Ms. Olai Uludong, Marshall Islands

Ms. Olai Uludong, Marshall Islands

What have you learnt at this COP?

“That the Pacific delegates really need a guide on how to negotiate text that is appropriate to their county because you can get lost among all the draft resolutions, at this COP there are 22 draft resolutions and unless we know about them then we don’t say anything.”

What advice do you have for others attending the next COP?

“Read the rules of procedures first and then read all the Draft Resolutions before the opening plenary and remember what you’re country positions are and also what the other conventions have decided.”

Ms. Nicola Scott, New Zealand

Ms. Nicola Scott, New Zealand

What advice do you have for others attending the next COP?

“It depends on your delegation but preparation is everything if you are a small delegation you need to identify your key issues and to be actually well briefed on those to know what you want out of the agenda item and what would be your ultimate target, or what you can live with.  That way you are actually well prepared to engage effectively on the floor and also to know what your colleagues in the region want out of the meeting.

Working the room – it is really important that you get out and talk to people and find out what they think and what their positions are and where you can work together constructively, when people work together as a block, it’s really a powerful tool because then you cover more ground with smaller delegations.”

Reimaanlok, a conservation plan for the future of the Marshall Islands

12 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - Reimaanlok, the Marshall Islands Conservation Plan is proposed to under review this year.  Established in 2007, a year after the Marshall Islands signed on to the Micronesia Challenge, the plan is a guide to help the island nation meet their part of the commitment.

 The Micronesia Challenge aims to effectively conserve 30% of nearshore marine and 20% of terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020.  Reimaanlok maps the course of actions to be taken by Marshall Islands, to establish and manage community-based conservation areas.

The Marshall Islands Conservation Plan was featured at the Oceania side event at the 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

“We use the Reimaanlok to guide us in our work.  A key part of the vision of this plan is to ensure we have a community based approach to nature conservation,” presented Ms. Olai Uludong, Chief Coastal and Land Management Division of the RMI Environmental Management Authority

“We always try to work with the community as much as possible because if the actions are community driven, then there is community ownership.”

Ms. Olai Uludong presenting the Reimaanlok

It is envisages that when the plan goes into review that it is hoped that , the findings will help them understand just how successful the actions have been under the guidance of the Reimaanlok and how close they are to achieving the Micronesia Challenge.

To fully understand the challenges faced by the Marshall Islands in implementing their conservation plans, an understanding of the islands geographical features helps. 

The Marshall Islands consists of 29 atolls with 5 solitary islands.  It comprises 1,2225 individual islands and islands and has an Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million Km², less that 0.01% of this, is land.  

Threats to their nature conservation range from overfishing to urban development and pollution to the nuclear history, to the loss of traditional conservation purposes. 

The Ramsar Wetland site of International Importance is based on one of the large coral atolls, the Jaluit Atoll Conservation Area it comprises 91 islets with a land area of 700 hectares enclosing a large lagoon.   

There are plans to propose a second Ramsar Wetland of international importance, the Namdrik Atoll.  Here at the 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands, the Marshall Islands, the island nation sought support to help expand their wetlands conservation areas.

“We’re here because we can’t conserve on our own anymore, we do have our traditional knowledge and skills for conservation but at this particular point we need technical assistance, we need financial resources, capacity building and knowledge, I think this is where we can try and achieve those and tap into the opportunities presented at these conferences.  We want to nominate more Ramsar sites.”

At this meeting the Marshall Islands will relinquish their position on the Standing committee and welcome Fiji in to this role to represent Oceania.

The 11th Conference of the Parties on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is held in Romania from 6 -13 July.  The Marshall Islands are contracting parties to the convention along with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. 

Oceania presence at global conference on wetlands

5 July, 2012, Bucharest, Romania - The Pacific island region boasts six wetlands of international importance with more on the horizon.

Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which will be holding its 11th Conference of the Parties in Romania over the next two weeks.

A key pillar of this Convention is to strengthen the wise use of wetlands around the world.  It has 162 contracting parties of which the Pacific Islands are grouped with Australia and New Zealand under the Oceania region, one of the six Ramsar regions.

Lake Ngardok, a Ramsar Wetland site of Importance, Palau

12% of the Earth’s land surface is made up of wetlands.  In the Pacific region Mangroves and coral reefs are the two main wetland types, containing 3% of the world’s mangroves and about 25% of the world’s coral reefs.

Right now there are seven members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) that are contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands with other members such as Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu, in the process of joining.

 “We are often asked when you join, what can the convention give them?  We often find that it’s up to the parties to utilize the Ramsar convention and brand to raise funds for their Ramsar Sites,” said Lew Young, the Senior Regional Adviser for Asia – Oceania.

Japan is an example of how the Ramsar Convention is used to promote sustainability of their wetlands.  In Japan there are approximately 46 Ramsar sites, all of which have clear logos identifying them as wetlands of international importance, these are usually driven by the local community to help attract development and tourism.  Within this there is often the opportunity to promote sustainable use of the wetlands such as organic rice farming, which then leads to the selling of organic rice that can attract a higher price so local farmers then benefit.

Lew Young addresses Oceania delegates at regional meeting

“This really takes on board the spirit of the Convention,” said Young, “so it’s not just about conserving wetlands for the birds it’s about getting communities involved, helping rural developments and so on  - this is part of the bigger, broader concept.”

There is over 190 million hectares from 2,000 wetland sites around the world, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

In the Pacific the Marshall Islands are working to add their second Ramsar Site  – the Namdrik Atoll, Fiji plans to add two more sites - Nasoata Islet  and Lake Tagimoucia.

“It will be really good to see the Pacific develop some strong projects on the ground so decision makers can see the benefits of wetland conservation.  Hopefully partnerships between the Oceania parties and between some Asian parties, will provide support where there are gaps to bring this about; and help share ideas of possible ways forward.”

While attending the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Oceania region will meet regularly to coordinate their presence at the different discussion threads at the Conference of the Parties.

The 11th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention is from 6 – 13 July, in Bucharest, Romania. Delegates from Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau and Samoa are attending the conference.

Conserving Pacific wetlands

4 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - The future host of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is a major topic on the agenda at the 11th Conference of the Parties to the Convention.  Currently hosted by IUCN in Gland, Switzerland, a proposal is on the table to have the Ramsar Secretariat hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme.

This was one of two key matters highlighted for the Oceania region, by the Marshall Islands who sat at the roundtable today, representing our region at the 44^th meeting of the Ramsar Standing Committee.

This committee meets once a year with an additional meeting before and after the Conference of the Parties, whereby it transforms into the Conference Committee for the duration, providing advice and guidance on issues that may arise.

“This is an important issue for our Pacific countries.  UNEP has been active, the conduit between the countries and the Global Environment Facility and then again IUCN also has a strong presence in our region, so that’s an important issue we should pay attention to,” said Olai Uludong, Chief, Coastal and Land Management Division of the Environmental Management Authority of the Marshall Islands and current Oceania representative on the Ramsar Standing Committee.

L - Vainuupo Jungblut SPREP,  Olai Uludong Marshall Islands

"This Draft Resolution will determine the future administration of the Ramsar Secretariat," said Vainuupo Jungblut, the Oceania Ramsar Officer at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

“A lot of ground work on the pros and cons for this proposal has been prepared.  My advice would be for the Oceania parties to thoroughly consider the information they have available to them, very carefully before making their final decision on this issue.  This is a huge issue.”

The Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention have varying views on this issue, however if no consensus can be reached on this matter, further deliberations will take place through a sub-committee formed to deliberate this topic.

The second issue was the proposal to have two contracting parties from each region attend the different committees within these negotiations, given the small numbers from the Pacific at this conference, this will also need to be considered if it is possible for delegates from the Oceania region.

The Standing Committee, acting as the conference committee will be meeting on a daily basis during the Conference of the Parties.

The 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is from 6 – 13 July.  Pacific contracting parties to the Convention are; Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

Quick tips Ramsar Convention on Wetlands:  What is a Standing Committee?

This Committee normally meets once each year, in addition it meets just before each COP at which time it transforms itself into the Conference Committee for the duration of the COP; and then again on the last day of the COP when the newly elected members choose the incoming executives.

The standing committee consists of 16 regional, two ex officio members from the Ramsar regions as well as eight permanent observers. 

The role of this committee is varied, ranging from canvassing opinions of Contracting Parties in their regional group before the meeting of the Standing Committee to advising the Secretariat in setting the agenda of regional meetings.

The Oceania representative to the Standing Committee is selected on a rotational basis.  All but Fiji and Palau have been members on the Standing Committee.

Read more about the Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

5 minutes with....

Nauru

Tyrone Deiye

Environment Policy Officer

Nauru.



Q.  What are the key issues for Nauru at the 10^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

For us mainly it is to keep abreast with the sustainable land management issues because at the moment we are finalising our National Action Plan for this.  Land degradation is a big issue for Nauru due to the phosphate mining and we need to integrate this issue in the work that is being done by the environment service to put plans and policies in place for sustainable development. 

Q. Why is it important for Nauru to be a party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

A key objective of the Convention is to address land degradation.  That is a big issue for us we need to keep informed of the connected issues and the ways to mobilize funds for us to address this a national level.

Q.  What does Nauru hope to get out of this 10^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification? 
We want to be more acquainted with the issues at this COP but we also want to unite with the Pacific and give our region a stronger voice at this meeting.

The Marshall Islands

Mr. Warwick Harris

Deputy Director

Office of Environmental Planning and Policy Coordination

Marshall Islands

Q.  What are the key issues for the Marshall Islands at the 10^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

A.  This is a fine opportunity to align our National Action Plan to the UNCCD ten year strategy, for which discussions are taking place on at this COP.  Yesterday we met with the Global Mechanism and talked about the integrated finance strategy process.  We would like to align our sustainable finance plan for the Micronesia Challenge with the ten year strategy and the integrated finance strategy of the UNCCD.

Q. Why is it important for the Marshall Islands to be a party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

For the Marshall Islands one key cause of land degradation amongst others is coastal erosion and one of the reasons we are a party to this convention is to take advantage of every opportunity to develop our capacity to mitigate against droughts and coastal erosion.

Q.  What does the Marshall Islands hope to get out of this 10^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?  
We’d like guidance as to how we can align our current sustainable finance plan under the Micronesia Challenge with the UNCCD Integrated Financial Strategy.  I think that will be a start to us receiving financial support and assistance for this regional initiative under the UNCCD.

Notes:

The Micronesia Challenge is a shared commitment to conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020

The Global Mechanism (GM) is a specialised institution, dedicated to supporting developing countries to increase investments into Sustainable Land Management in order to help reverse, control and prevent land degradation and desertification.

Issue of high seas for Marshall Islands and Nauru

The Pacific Voyage Media Team 26 October 2010

The Marshall Islands asks for developing nations to respect closure of high seas

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is seeking the support of developing nations to respect the closure of the high seas of countries comprising the Parties of to the Nauru Agreement to purse seine fishing.

The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) includes Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

These countries are the owners of 25% of the world’s tuna supply.

Joseph Tibon, Technical Policy Officer of the Marshall Islands says that during the negotiations here at the Convention of Biological Diversity, it is encouraging developing nations to support the scheme.

“We are showcasing PNA countries approach for developing nations to support,” Tibon stresses.

The high seas including the Marshall Islands will be closed to purse seine fishing vessels licensed to fish in their waters.

The closed high seas area stretches from Palau and Papua New Guinea in the West to Kiribati in the East, Marshall Islands in the North to Tuvalu in the South.

The high seas closure covers an area of 4,555,000 sq km.

The PNA also has 100% observer coverage of purse seine vessels to monitor compliance of the high seas area closure.

The high seas closure might be an issue for developing nations because it could overlap with international seas.

Tibon states that Marshall Islands coastal and marine biodiversity are very important because it is the nations’ source of food and livelihood.

With this in mind, RMI also wants new agreements to the access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilization and the protection of marine stocks.

L - R Tyrone Deiye (Nauru) and Joseph Tibon (Marshall Islands)

Nauru protects biodiversity

Nauru shares similar issues with the rest of the Pacific Island nations which it wants to address during the remaining days of the Convention of Biological Diversity.

Two issues are vital to Nauru  says Tyrone Deiye, the Environment Policy Officer of the Department of Commerce Industry and Environment, the access to  genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their utilization and the protection of marine stocks.

“Small islands have only few resources and we want to protect it,” Deiye cites.

As a party to the Convention, Nauru says that most of the developed countries come to the small island states and access their resources.  Take for example, the fish stocks in the Pacific Ocean that is in danger of depletion if bigger countries make their way to the region’s waters.

Nauru is one of the countries which comprisesthe Parties to the Nauru Agreement.  The rest of the countries are  Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,  Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

The PNA aims to improve the region's tuna fisheries through sustainable management and innovation.

“The Pacific Ocean is now the hunting environment,” he says.

Nauru is also concerned about the access and benefit sharing of natural biodiversity.

The access benefit sharing regime will allow the sharing of  benefits derived from their use.  Genetic resources whether from plant, animal or micro-organisms may be used for different purposes (e.g. basic research, commercialisation of products). Users of genetic resources may include research institutes, universities and private companies operating in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, horticulture and biotechnology.

Benefits derived from genetic resources may include the result of research and development carried out on genetic resources, the transfer of technologies which make use of those resources, participation in biotechnological research activities, or monetary benefits arising from the commercialisation of products based on genetic resources. One example of monetary benefits could be the sharing of royalties arising from patented products based on genetic resources.

The Conference of the Parties established the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing (a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties) with the mandate to develop guidelines and other approaches to assist Parties with the implementation of the access and benefit-sharing provisions of the Convention.

Nauru like the rest of the PNA countries wants the depletion of its marine stocks, especially the tuna stocks by agreeing in to closing of pockets in high seas from commercial fishing.  He says that the developing nations, fish stocks are already running out which makes them come to the smaller nations for resources.

Nauru is in unity will the PNA countries in encouraging developing nations to support the closure of the high seas to purse seine fishing.

West Indian Ocean Partnership - learning from the Micronesia Challenge

The Pacific Voyage Media Team

L-R: Seychelles Ambassador to the UN Ronald Jumeau, Joe Aitaro Palau

25 October Nagoya Japan - Nations comprising of the Western Indian Ocean are inspired by the small island countries’ Micronesian Challenge initiative which seeks to effectively conserve 30 percent of near shores resources and 20 percent of terrestrial resources by 2020.

Signed by the leaders of the Marianas, Guam, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia Challenge seeks to Effectively Conserve 30% of Near Shore Resources and 20% of Terrestrial Resources by 2020.

Micronesia Challenge was first launched by 2006 by Palau which was immediately supported by the other nations and that the movement has served as an inspiration for Caribbean countries to launch a similar challenge.

Seychelles’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations HE Ambassador Ronald Jumeau during a side event says that the Micronesia Challenge is an initiative that served as an inspiration that the nations are adopting.

He states that the Western Indian Ocean nations are taking lessons from the Micronesian countries as to - “where we ought to go.”

 In 2005 then Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr.  committed his nation to preserving 30 percent of their near-shore marine resources and 20 percent of their terrestrial resources by 2020.

The initiative was then launched in 2006 and supported by the rest of the Micronesia region that agreed to match the same commitment Palau made.

Joe Aitaro, Palau’s Protected Areas Network coordinater was one of the speakers during the side event with representatives from the Western Indian Ocean countries in attendance.

‘What they wanted to hear from us was the arrangement of the initiative and what the benefits are,” Aitaro says.

He explains that one of the major points that need to be learned from the initiative is that it is a long term commitment.  Aitaro says the effort has been successful due to the head of states commitment of seeing it through.

“The leaders might have changed but the commitment is still there,” Aitaro notes.

He says that the current leaders in the Micronesian region are continually meeting to ensure its success.

Each of the five jurisdictions in the Micronesia has endorsed the Micronesia Conservation Trust as a regional finance tool to ensure that the Challenge remains sustainable.

The Micronesia Challenge represents more than 5 percent of the Pacific Ocean and 61 percent of the world’s coral species. It includes 66 threatened species, more than 1,300 species of reef fish, 85 species of birds and 1,400 species of plants — 200 of which are found only in Micronesia.

The five jurisdictions are well on their way in achieving the commitments.

New Regional Plan to Conserve Pacific Wetlands

A new draft three-year action plan has been developed outlining activities, responsibilities and targets that seek to promote and strengthen the wise use and conservation of wetlands in the region.

The new Regional Wetlands Action Plan for the Pacific Islands follows on from the original Regional Wetlands Action Plan endorsed by members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in 1999. The new action plan covers the period 2011-2013 and is expected to be finalised this month.

Lake Kutubu, Papua New Guinea: Photo by Aaron Jenkins

 The three-year action plan was developed during a regional workshop which was held in August in Noumea, New Caledonia to review the implementation of the 1999 Regional Wetlands Action Plan. It preceded a series of training sessions on implementation processes of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for contracting parties and accession procedures for non-contracting parties.

A total of 13 Pacific island countries and territories participated.

Group photo of participants

 The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international agreement that commits parties to the conservation and wise use of their wetlands. There are currently five Pacific island countries that are parties to this Convention - Fiji, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. Tonga, Niue and Kiribati are expected to join very soon.

In the Pacific, wetlands are critical to the livelihood of families and communities. They have an immense value in providing fish and other foods, as well as supply a vast range of products such as building materials, handicrafts, medicines, cosmetics and ornamentation for Pacific peoples. For our region, the conservation and wise use of wetlands is also of global significance given that they contain among the largest variety of plants and animals in the world.

Plaines Des Lacs, New Caledonia: Photo by Vainuupo Jungblut

This important three year action plan to conserve our wetlands will be circulated widely once it is finalised and the implementation of this plan will be carried out through coordination between national governments, SPREP and its regional and international partners.

While the new three-year plan action plan was the key outcome of the workshop, there were also other benefits that arose from the gathering.

There was the sharing of experiences and exchange of information between participants on national issues, challenges and priorities relating to the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. There is also now a better understanding of the benefits and required steps for joining the Ramsar Convention, as well as a better understanding of implementation issues, processes and procedures for the contracting parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Further to that the participants attending were also able to learn about conservation measures, lessons and initiatives in New Caledonia and could make new contacts with French experts working in this field.

NOTES
The event was made possible through the generous financial support from the Governments of France, Australia, United States and Norway, and was hosted by Government of New Caledonia and was co-organised by SPREP and the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.

The workshop was held at the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Nouméa and engaged representatives from Pacific islands countries and territories that were Contracting Party, and non-Contracting Party to the Ramsar Convention, i.e. Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. In addition, there were representatives from regional organisations, Non Government Organisations and Universities. 

A Pacific Statement on Biodiversity

The Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity which was held 16 - 18 August prepared the below final meeting statement.  

The meeting was coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and was attended by the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Partners that attended this meeting are the Department of Conservation NZ, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Australia, Environmental Defender Office, Fiji Forestry Department, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, IUCN, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Please click here to view the document in pdf format