First 'net zero' building in the Pacific

6 December 2013, Suva Fiji - By Wati Talebula, journalism student at FNU:- A new building for the American Samoa - Environmental Protection Agency (AS-EPA) that was damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in 2009 would be the first in the Pacific to receive an international eco-rating.

The new building will be energy efficient and built on the same footprint as the old building.

The agency hopes to have the building certified Leed Platinum Green, which would be the first in the Pacific.Ms. Christianera Tuitele, water programme manager at AS-EPA said: "The goal is to be net zero so that the whole year we don't have to pay any money to our power authority as everything comes naturally like all the solar energy," she said.

Ms. Christianera Tuitele, water programme manager at AS-EPA

Like all other projects the American Samoans faced challenges but were able to overcome them.

"Administration challenges are getting multiple funding sources, the federal process, local process and most importantly the weather and if there is no boat for five weeks then we have to wait for five weeks to get our materials from Australian and New Zealand and most importantly we didn't have the local knowledge to build the green building as this was the first time in American Samoan."

From March this year they have been "net zero" so far and hope to sustain this throughout the rest of the year.
Wati Talebula 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).

More commitment needed to save world biodiversity

8 October 2012, CBD COP 11, Hyderabad, India - The 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity opened today in Hyderabad, India, calling on parties to commit resources to meet the 2020 Biodiversity targets.  Parties to the Convention will be discussing the progress and challenges of implementing the Convention.

The Pacific region, rich in biodiversity nestled in Pacific Ocean which covers one-third of the Earth’s surface, has 14 Pacific island parties to the Convention that was signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.  A plan of action is in place and will be discussed daily over the coming two weeks to ensure the Pacific concerns are raised and addressed among the thousands of delegates at the conference.

One of the key agenda items of common concern for the Pacific island region is the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 – 2020.  This is a 10-year framework for action, including on the 20 biodiversity targets set at the COP 10 in Nagoya Japan in 2010, have been established as the overall framework for biodiversity work in the United Nations system.  To successfully implement this plan, support is needed for the Pacific region to have the resources and capacity to achieve these targets.

In setting the scene for the coming two weeks of meetings, key speakers at the opening plenary are calling for more commitment of resources to meet the 2020 Biodiversity targets having failed to achieve a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

India’s Environment and Forest Minister, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, the President of the CBD COP 11, encouraged parties to view expenditure on biodiversity as an investment that will read benefits “for us and for our future generations”.

“Present global economic crises should not deter us but on the contrary, encourage us to invest more towards amelioration of natural capital for ensuring uninterrupted ecosystem services on which all life on earth depends.”

This was supported the Executive Secretary of the CBD, Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Diaz said expenditure on biodiversity should not be seen as costs, but rather as investments that will pay back with “significant environmental, social and economic benefits for all our societies.”

“Yes, we are facing times of financial crises, but times of crisis are the best opportunities to make substantive changes in the way we do business.”

The CBD COP 11 ends 18 October, for more information on CBD COP 11 and the agenda items and documents, please visit: www.cbd.int

Pacific prepares plan of action at international biodiversity conference

7 October 2012, CBD COP 11, Hyderabad, India - Pacific delegates attending the 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity met in Hyderabad, India to prepare for the coming two weeks of negotiations.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development and was signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.  It has three key objectives - conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The Pacific meeting was to strategise the plan of action to address the agenda items of common interest, with a united approach, some of which include the Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, and Financial Mechanisms.

L - R Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu Kiribati, Ratita Bebe Kiribati, Sarah Tawaka Fiji

"It is crucial for Pacific Islands to really work together, considering the crucial items of pertinence to our islands and people within our region, which will be discussed in this global CBD level,” said Ms. Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu, the Acting Director of Environment and Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture.

“Teamwork, coordination, communication but above all, commitment; is key to effective participation of Pacific Island Country delegates, this will ensure that the global process will have positive impacts at our regional and national levels in the terms of meeting the three objectives of the CBD”

The Pacific delegates will also be working with the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the CBD COP 11, with preparation and input into a statement at the opening meeting to be read by Kiribati on behalf of the SIDS.

This meeting is the first of many to come.  The Pacific delegates will be meeting in the mornings on a regular basis during the conference, and also hope to meet with other Small Islands Developing States to prepare each day before joining the Asia Pacific morning briefings.

L - R Asterio Appi Nauru, Warwick Harris Marshall Islands, Stuart Chape SPREP, Easter Galuvao SPREP

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is providing technical, coordination and communications support at the CBD COP 11 to Pacific delegates.

Attending the first Pacific preparatory meeting were delegates from Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Nauru, other Pacific delegates are still en route to India.

Pacific encouraged to step up and be recognised - Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards

One of the founding fathers of the treaty, Dr Luc Hoffman, awarded.
Photo courtesy of IISD

7 July 2012, Bucharest, Romania - The 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands opened in Romania awarding five winners of the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards.

Established in 1996, the awards recognize and honor the contributions of individuals, organizations and governments around the world in promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands.

Presented at COP events since 1999, this year’s edition were given in three categories:  Education to the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, Management to Ms. August Henriques and Science to Prof. Tatsuichi Tsujii.

The jury also conferred a Recognition of Achievement Award to Mr Thymio Papayannis for his inspired leadership in the field of wetland conservation, wise use and the cultural value of wetlands in Greece, the Mediterranean and globally.

As 2011 marked the 40^th anniversary of the signing of the Convention, the Standing Committee decided to honour one of the founding fathers of the treaty, Dr Luc Hoffman, with a 40^th Anniversary Honorary Ramsar Award.

“Congratulations to these award winners for their hard work to conserve global wetlands,” said Vainuupo Jungblut the Oceania Ramsar Officer at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

“I think this is a really good opportunity and example to encourage the people of our region, those who have been working towards the wise use of our wetlands for many many years to step up and be recognised.  There is a lot of expertise in the Pacific at the local level, many people that have done a lot of work on wetlands conservation for the past 40 years.”

A call for nominations is made in anticipation of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention which is held every three years.  These nominations are then analysed by the Secretariat to submission to the Standing Committee Subgroup which also acts as the Jury to make the final decision.

"We encourage our Pacific people to nominate and be nominated for these awards when the call for nominations is made."

Each award winner receives a cash prize of USD 10,000 generously donated by the DANONE Group, as part of the DANONE/Evian Fund for Water in support of the Ramsar Convention.

The DANON/Evian Fund for Water is a partnership between the Ramsar Convention and the DANONE Group for the purpose of supporting the Convention in taking action for the wise use of water resources and for maintaining their quality.

The 11^th Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is from 6 – 13 July, hosted by Romania for which six of the seven Pacific contracting parties to the convention are attending.  These are; Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau and Samoa.  Papua New Guinea, also a contracting party to the Convention is not attending this year.

Please read to find out more about the award winners.