The Pacific Year of the Dugong; Respect and Protect

14 March, 2011, Palau - The campaign to progress the protection of the dugong, led by the Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and its partner the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS), will target local coastal and fishing communities and water craft users in the Pacific region.

Awareness and outreach activities highlighting the need for protection of dugongs in the Pacific Islands region will be the focus of the campaign being initiated through national launches in New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

A number of initiatives to build local capacity to deliver positive conservation outcomes for dugongs in the Pacific Island region will also be promoted throughout the Pacific Year of the Dugong.

A new pilot project using financial incentives to address direct hunting and the incidental capture of dugongs by changing people’s practices and improving the livelihoods of local communities in Daru Papua New Guinea are among the initiatives to be promoted under the Pacific Year of the Dugong 2011.

Dugongs, which play a significant ecological role in the functioning of coastal habitats, live in warm coastal and islands waters from East Africa to Vanuatu in the Pacific.

The conservation and plan developed under the United Nations Environment Programme/CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MoU) provides the framework for the regional cooperation for the long-term protection of dugongs in the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, South Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Specific to the Pacific Islands region, SPREP has a regional Dugong Action Plan 2008-2012.

All range states in the Pacific Island region (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) have committed to the Dugong MoU as signatories. In 2010 Palau declared a marine mammal sanctuary, which includes dugongs, within its Economic Exclusive Zone.

For more information on the Pacific Year of the Dugong 2011, please visit: http://www.sprep.org/biodiversity/PYOD/index.html

Invasive species a growing problem for the Pacific

Invasive species are a rapidly increasing problem across the Pacific islands region and countries are calling on the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to assist with raising public awareness and increasing government engagement in addressing the problem.

A working paper presented by New Caledonia at the 21^st SPREP meeting recently held in Madang, Papua New Guinea, highlighted issues relating to invasive species and their impact on livelihoods and ecosystems of the Pacific. The main aim of the paper, titled “Mainstreaming Invasive Species and Biodiversity,” was to inform members of the risks to livelihoods and ecosystems posed by invasive alien species and their predicted interactions with climate change.

Photo: Mont Panié Reserve, site of pest animal management by local communities, North Province, New Caledonia by Dr. Alan Saunders

Dr Alan Tye, SPREP’s Invasive Species Officer, explained that more emphasis on public awareness and government support for invasive species management should be given.  The paper sought the Meeting’s approval for SPREP to undertake a programme to increase public awareness of the value of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in the Pacific.

He said that, during discussions at a workshop titled “Helping Islands Adapt” in Auckland earlier this year, the Pacific group determined that the fundamental problem which currently prevents adequate investment in managing the impacts of invasive species is lack of political support.

“This is compounded by the fact that modern society does not value biodiversity highly enough and does not understand the magnitude of the impacts of invasive species on economies, livelihoods and the environment,” he said.

The working paper explained that invasive species are recognised as a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide and that island ecosystems were particularly fragile and vulnerable to invasive species. Although islands cover only 5% of the Earth’s land surface, they are home to about 20% of all known terrestrial species and almost half of all endangered species.

According to the paper, more than 70% of the world’s terrestrial species extinctions have occurred on islands, and most of these were caused by invasive species.

Dr Tye added that invasive species management represents an effective form of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change and that every effort should be made to secure the financial resources necessary to build political support and inspire environmental stewardship. 

Some of the recommendations outlined by the working paper at the 21^st SPREP meeting included: reaffirming the importance of healthy ecosystems in helping Pacific islands to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change; reaffirming that invasive species constitute a primary threat to livelihoods and ecosystems; fully supporting SPREP in its search for resources to address the invasive species threat; and requesting SPREP to develop a social marketing strategy and programme that emphasises both political mainstreaming and environmental inspiration for the very young. 

For more details please contact SPREP’s Invasive Species Officer Dr. Alan Tye at alant@sprep.org

Notes:  The Pacific Group at the “Helping Islands Adapt” workshop in Auckland comprised of representatives of Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, and several international and regional organisations.

Pacific Biodiversity: An important topic for Environment Ministers

PNG Environment Minister Hon. Benny Allen opening the High level meeting

Ministers and Heads of Delegation attending the 21SM renewed their commitment to biodiversity conservation and affirmed that biological diversity is the foundation of the well-being of our communities and cultures.

The Meeting expressed concern over the increasing challenge of reducing biodiversity loss and declared the need for all to work together to use biodiversity wisely and maintain the health of natural ecosystems.

The link between biodiversity and culture - opening performance at the High level meeting

The link between climate change and biodiversity was also raised at this meeting. Delegates noted that the loss of biodiversity is compounded by the overwhelming threat of climate change and affirmed that responses to climate change must be linked to efforts to conserve and manage the region’s species and ecosystems. Maintaining a strong and healthy environment will ensure better resilience of the region to the impacts of climate change.

Efforts of SPREP Member countries and territories to strengthen and conserve important biodiversity sites were highly praised, in particular those that were successful with inscribing World Natural Heritage Sites.

Of particular mention were the world’s largest marine protected area, Kiribati’s Phoenix Islands Protected Area; New Caledonia’s lagoons and coral reefs; and the USA’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, all of which have been inscribed as World Natural Heritage Sites in the past two years.

This meeting of Pacific environment leaders encouraged all Pacific island countries and territories to take similar action as those with World Heritage Sites, to conserve and manage important terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

The Meeting also welcomed the collaborative effort of the Micronesia Challenge which brings together the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and Palau in a combined effort to conserve 30% of their nearshore marine resources and 20% of their terrestrial resources by 2020.

Group photo

The next important step for the Pacific region is attendance at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10) in Nagoya, Japan. The meeting of Ministers and heads of delegation noted the importance of a ‘One Pacific Voice’ at this international meeting, to ensure that decisions made will take into account the needs of the Small Islands Developing States.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme will be providing support and assistance to member countries at the CBD COP10.

To read the full Communique please visit:  

http://www.sprep.org/article/news_detail.asp?id=822

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.