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

Northern Marianas strengthens fight against Invasive Species

The Pacific Invasives Learning Network (PILN) recently gained an important ally as part of its  efforts to address invasive species throughout the Pacific region. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) has become the fifteenth team to join PILN following a series of successful meetings on Saipan, Tinian and Rota islands.

The Invasive Species Officer of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the PILN Coordinator met with local agencies and personnel to discuss the role that PILN could play in helping to manage invasive species in this Pacific territory.

Dr Alan Tye SPREP, Mayor of Rota, Melchor A. Mendiola, Dr Posa Skelton PILN

“This was a very productive visit and we are pleased to welcome the Northern Mariana Islands to our network,” said Dr Posa Skelton, the PILN Coordinator.

“The meeting agreed to form a national invasives committee to start the process of formulating a strategy, which will help with identifying priority issues and gaps to be addressed.”

During the series of meetings the Scarlet Ivy Gourd was identified as a serious problem on Saipan and Tinian. This smothering vine may have a negative impact on the forests of Saipan as the vines form a dense cover that shades and destroys the forest underneath. 

Photo: Scarlet Ivy Gourd by Forest and Kim Starr

The Cuban Slug on Rota Island was also identified as a major threat to local crops, this invasive species feeds on many different native, ornamental and agricultural plants. The residents of Rota Island have been asked to take precautions to ensure the slugs do not move to new areas on Rota where they may cause further damage.

“This meeting has helped us learn of the key threats to the Northern Marianas Islands and we are keen to work together to help them in their battle against these invasive species,” said Dr Skelton.

“The close proximity of the northern Marianas to Guam, coupled with similarity in habitat makes Rota, Tinian and Saipan Islands highly vulnerable to unwanted pests. Often pests that are first found in Guam, such as the Cane Toad, Giant African Snail and the Brown Tree Snake are later found in the northern Marianas. This demonstrates the importance of tackling invasive species at both national and regional levels.”

Guam is a founding member of PILN, which provides an excellent opportunity for exchanges, training and networking between the two teams.

The meetings in the Northern Marianas Islands were held from August 31 to September 3, 2010.

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Notes: PILN is currently made up of teams from American Samoa, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Pohnpei, Samoa, Yap and now CNMI. PILN teams are multi-agency and multi-sectoral, including government departments, non-governmental organisations, research institutions and communities.

For more details please contact PILN Coordinator Dr Posa Skelton at E: posas@sprep.org 
For more on PILN please visit - http://www.sprep.org/PILN/index.htm

2010 Vision Pasifika Media Award

A call is being made to all Pacific reporters and journalism students to submit entries to the 2010 Vision Pasifika Media Award launched by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

This year the theme for the award is “Value Island Biodiversity – It’s Our Life” as part of the International Year of Biodiversity celebration.  The Vision Pasifika Media Award is an opportunity for Pacific media to showcase their role in helping to raise awareness on our Pacific biodiversity.

“SPREP understands the important role of the Pacific media in helping to protect and preserve our natural surroundings which provide so many Pacific communities with their livelihoods,” said Easter Galuvao the Biodiversity Adviser at SPREP.

“Pacific biodiversity has global significance, but it is also in danger of extinction and for our region, this is a concern.  It is our environment that has helped shaped our culture, Pacific identity and provided us with incomes, as our slogan says – ‘It’s our Life’ .  We congratulate the media within the region for producing the news stories to raise the awareness about our biodiversity and this award is just one way that we can express our appreciation.”

The Vision Pasifika Media Award has five categories; Print, Radio, Television, Journalism Student and Best Overall.  Entries are open to journalists residing in any of SPREP’s island member countries or territories and must have been published or broadcast over the period of 1 January to 31 December 2010.  Prize money of 500 USD is awarded to the winning entries under each category.  

 All entries must reach SPREP by 14 January 2011.

Stories could showcase community projects, highlight how people are benefitting from biodiversity, promote good environment practices or even be more investigative in style however they do not need to be limited to these suggestions.  Any story that encompasses the need to protect or value our island biodiversity should be submitted.

The Pacific Islands News Association and PACNEWS endorse the Vision Pasifika Media Award and encourage all Pacific reporters to submit entries.

“We are honored to be part of this regional media award that recognises the contribution of journalists toward environment reporting.  This award is an incentive for journalists to pursue their interests in covering environmental issues and how they are impacting on the livelihoods of Pacific peoples.”

This is the second year for the Vision Pasifika Media Award, in 2009 the award was a partnership with WWF and focused on the theme “Climate Change”, for which over 30 entries were received.  Mr. Anish Chand of Fiji Television was awarded the best overall and Television News category, Mr. Moffat Mamu of the Solomon Star News won the print category and Ms. Rachna Lal and Ms. Kalpana Prasad were awarded the student category for their story in USP Student publication, Wansolwara.

The Vision Pasifika Media Award is also supported by the European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme as part of an African, Caribbean and Pacific countries project to help countries implement Multilateral Environment Agreements.

For further details on this award please contact SPREP’s Associate Media and Publications officer Ms. Nanette Woonton at E: nanettew@sprep.org

To download the Vision Pasifika Media Award entry form please visit: http://www.sprep.org/biodiversity/ybd/documents/SPREPMediaAwardFinal2.pdf

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

Pacific Islander to vacate seat on World Biodiversity Bureau, in October

Come the end of October, the second Pacific nation to hold a seat on the Bureau for the Convention for Biological Diversity, passes this privilege on.  

Tania Temata from the Cook Islands together with Cambodia represents the Asia Pacific Group on this bureau.  It is a first for the Cook Islands to be represented on any bureau for the many global multilateral-environmental agreements. 

R: Tania Temata

The Bureau for the CBD is like a Board of Directors for a company.  It reviews the implementation of the Convention and oversees the preparation of the bi-annual conferences of the parties and all other related meetings in between the conference of the parties.   The logistic organisation of the meeting is coordinated by the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity.

The Convention of the Biological Diversity is having the 10^th Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan in October this year, for which 14 Pacific islands countries and territories are a party to this international agreement to conserve the biodiversity of the World.

The Asia Pacific Group is a recognised United Nations grouping within the Convention of Biological Diversity.  It consists of over 40 different countries and is given two seats on the Bureau each term.  Kiribati was the first Pacific nation to be nominated on the bureau by the Asia Pacific group.  It has been agreed within the group that the seats are to be rotated each term amongst its sub-region grouping. (South Asia, Central Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific)

“My first interest is to represent the views of the Pacific islands countries on this bureau, and the business of CBD.  Secondly it is to represent the interests of Asia Pacific as a group,” said Temata on her role on the bureau.

“I have learned a lot by sitting on the bureau in terms of CBD business and how the UN system works.  Also working within the Asia Pacific Group, I've had to work within the dynamics of the different countries, their differing interests and priorities.  Trying to manage these differing views, and making sure all interests are equally represented without any biases has been a real learning curve for me.”

"The Asia Pacific group consists of both developing and developed nations, big countries, like China and smaller countries like Niue for example.  You have to recognise that the dynamics of the group is wide and varied, and try your best to represent them.  I just hope that I have been able to represent both the Pacific and the group well during this term."

 

Temata will vacate her seat on the Bureau of the CBD at the end of the 10^th Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan.  She began her term at the end of the 9^th Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, Germany in 2008.

Talking the talk: Quick pointers

• CBD means Convention on Biological Diversity.
• A Multilateral environment agreement is a legally binding agreement  is a legally binding agreement between two or more states relating to the environment - examples of which are the Convention on Biological Diversity or the United Nations Framework on the Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol.