8th Conference Daily Proceedings
Pre Conference Events:
Thursday, 18 October 2007
1.Marine Protected Area Initiative
Organiser (s): Marjo Vierros, Professor
UNU-Institute of Advanced Studies
Dominique Benzaken (former SPREP Coastal Management Adviser)
Friday, 19 October 2007
1. Bird Meeting
Organiser (s): Bird Life International /SPREP
Contact (s): Ana Tiraa, Island Biodiversity Officer
SPREP
2. IMoSEB (International Mechanism of Scientific Expertise on Biodiversity) Pacific Consultation
Organiser (s): IMoSEB
Sabine Brels
Executive Secretariat, IMoSEB/CIRAD, France
3. SPREP/CBD NBSAP Meeting
Organiser (s): SPREP/CBD
Contact (s): Eleanor Carter (Former SPREP Biodiversity & Planning Adviser)
Ana Tiraa, Island Biodiversity Officer
Saturday, 20 October 2007
1. Biodiversity Monitoring
Contact: James Atherton,
Conservation Outcomes Manager, Apia, Samoa
Pacific Islands Program
Conservation International
2. Pacific Protected Areas Database
Organiser (s): Bill Aalbersberg, Director
Institute of Applied Science,
University of South Pacific, FIJI
The Conference
Welcome and Opening Ceremony
Speeches:
- Milne bay Province Governor: Hon. John Luke Crittin
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Hon_John_Luke_Crittin_Opening.pdf
- Minister for Environment and Conservation: Hon. Benny Allen
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Hon_Benny_Allen_Opening.pdf
- Governor General: Sir Paulias Matane
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Sir_Paulias_Matane_Opening.pdf
- SPREP Director: Mr Asterio Takesy
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Asterio_Takesy_Opening.pdf
Keynote Speech by Willy Kostka, Director Micronesian Conservation Trust (MCT)
Rountable Reports
- Original Paper
2. Kate Brown-Vitolio, Action Strategy Adviser, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
3. Roundtable Chair : Taholo Kami, Regional Director, Oceania IUCN
Implementing Conservation in the Pacific
Outputs of all breakout groups:
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Discussion_Day_One_summaries.pdf
Papua New Guinea Highlights
- Dr Eric Kwa, Director, Human Rights Center, University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/SPREP_Conference_2007_Alotau_PNG_Status.pdf
Is Conservation Serving Communities?
- Rex Horoi, Executive Director, Foundation of the People's of the South Pacific International (FSPI)
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/RexHoroi.pdf
- Case Study: Etika Rupeni, Regional Programme Manager, FSPI
i. www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Part_I_Case_Study.pdf
Feedback from breakout groups
Existing Initiatives:
Sustainable Financing Session
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Sustainable_Financing.pdf
Implementing Conservation in the Pacific Part II
Identifying Actions and Commitments
Stakeholder Roles
Closing Speeches
- Milne bay Province Governor: Hon John Luke Crittin, MP
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Governors_Speech.pdf
- The Prime Minister of PNG: Hon Sir Micheal Somare
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Sir_Micheal_Somare_Closing.pdf
- SPREP Director: Mr Asterio Takesy
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Asterio_Takesy_Closing.pdf
- New Chair of the Roundtable: Taholo Kami
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Taholo_Kami_Closing.pdf
Final Conference Output
Please request document from Kate Brown mailto: kateb@sprep.org
Other Links:
www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Papua_New_Guinea/5.pdf
NGO Conference Statement
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Side Events/Concurrent Sessions |
Monday 22 October 2007
Mainstreaming Conservation for Communities
Typically BINGOs (Big International NGOs) are perceived to operate on big budgets and short time frames which contrast sharply with community/local NGO conservation activities in the Pacific region. This session provides an opportunity to showcase good examples (from the Pacific and elsewhere) of community engagement/outreach/education (eg where ‘western’ approaches and traditional knowledge have been successfully combined), talk about what has worked and what has not, identify barriers to community-led conservation activities in the region and discuss possible solutions.
Contact: Angela Kirkman, Communication Manager, Melanesia CBC, Pacific Islands Program Conservation International
Project on Issue-based Modules
Countries have repeatedly expressed the need for tools to streamline the implementation of the biodiversity conventions and help them deal with the multitude of obligations coming from different Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs) both at regional and global level. UNEP has developed four modules focusing on invasive alien species, biodiversity and climate change, sustainable use and inland waters to assist in the harmonized implementation of MEAs at the national level. The project was developed in close cooperation with UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) and IUCN and provides countries with a logical issue-based framework for implementing official Convention guidance across MEAs together with other national commitments. Each module provides a structured overview of how a certain topic is treated across several regional and global agreements by identifying and grouping implementation requirements under different agreements. The modules connect different pieces of the same puzzle (eg. national commitments with regards to inland waters) by using simplified language in a logical framework.
Contact: Claire Brown, Ecosystem Assessment Programme
UNEP-WCMC
E-mail: claire.brown@unep-wcmc.org
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Issuebasedmodules_PNG_October07.pdf
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/thematea_slide.pdf
Tools and Resources for Addressing Biological Prospecting and Access and Benefit Sharing Concerns in Pacific Island Countries
Bioprospecting activities are taking place in Pacific island countries, though its extent has not been comprehensively documented. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are a number of research initiatives underway that have resulted, or may result, in the commercial use of the genetic resources harvested. A systematic assessment of the extent of such activities provides a first step in regulating these activities and in ensuring that bioprospecting activities provide technological, scientific, social and economic benefits to source communities and countries. This session will review our current knowledge of bioprospecting activities in Pacific Island countries, and introduce tools and resources, such as the Pacific Bioprospecting Database, that can empower communities and governments in negotiating ABS agreements. The session will also provide ample time for examining national experiences in regards to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and for developing proposals for future work, including strengthening national law and regional policy.
Contact: Clark Peteru, SPREP Environment Legal Adviser
Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals in the Pacific Islands Region
The meeting aims to share information on milestones in marine mammal conservation and management that have benefited communities in the region since the last Action Strategy for Nature Conservation, and will contribute to conference outcomes by feeding back key issues and priorities for marine mammals to inform the next Action Strategy. The target audience will be Government representatives of Fisheries, Environment, and Tourism, Protected area managers, Marine scientists, NGOs and donors. The meeting will produce a record from the attending participants of the breakout session that includes priorities for marine mammal conservation recommended for inclusion in the new Action Strategy for Nature Conservation.
Contact: Olive Andrews, IFAW Pacific Officer, SPREP
Tuesday 22 October 2007
Climate change and natural variability impacts on biological diversity in the west pacific region.
There is now discernible effect of human activity at global level as reported by international scientists (ipcc, 2007). In papua new guinea and pacific regions little or no research for the last 30 years have reported climate change or greenhouse signals is in the region but recognized the challenge of long term research and collecting more data to improve the scientific understanding on this long term challenge. However in this region some results strongly indicate that climate/natural variability have continually impacted on the economic, environmental, socio-cultural sectors of papua new guinea and pacific people and countries. The following vulnerable sectors needs urgent attention and include; protection of the marine and terrestrial biodiversity, coastal areas, water resources, agriculture, human health, cultural and traditional heritage sites, fisheries, forestry, and social and economic dimensions. Some adaptation strategies are now being planned to deal with the impacts of climate change, variability and sea level rise in the region; an integrated coastal management (icm) concept being promoted by some governments and serve as a potential process in addressing the impacts of climate change, variability and environment changes. The main objectives of this paper are: i) to provide an overview on the impacts of climate change and natural climate variability as the most important signal on marine and terrestrial biodiversity sectors in the west pacific region, ii) link climate changes activities to the national and regional biodiversity programmes/activities.
Contact: Dominique Benzaken, Former SPREP Coastal MAnagement adviser
Community actions and initiatives – Case study from the GEF/NZAID Pacific Environment Fund Small Grants Programme (GEF/NZAID PEF SGP)
This side event will involve an introductory presentation on the GEF/NZAID Small Grants in the Pacific and Samoa by UNDP and will also highlight the case study of community-based experiences from the Savaia Village Marine Biodiversity Project made possible through this fund.
Contact: Leilani Duff, Sub Regional Coordinator, GEF-PEF, Small grant Programme
Invasive Species & Climate Change
Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in island ecosystems. When a species is accidentally or intentionally introduced into a new landscape or seascape, the consequences can be devastating, posing a large threat to agriculture, public health, tourism, and other economic activities. Invasive plants and animals can spread unchecked, disrupting natural cycles, and costing billions. Invasives are a priority for Pacific Island nations because islands are highly vulnerable to invasions that can result in catastrophic loss of biodiversity and other impacts. The impact of invasive species on island biota can be more damaging than climate change. Predicted future changes in the climate, resulting in warmer seas and lands, will result in an even greater magnification of the negative impacts of invasive species. In the warmer and more benign climatic conditions of the future more introduced species will be able to establish, flourish and become invasive, leading to more crop pests and weeds, more human diseases and disease vectors, and more invasive species impacting natural areas. This side event offers an opportunity to discuss ideas, and share experience and knowledge in this emerging issue, in the context of the Pacific and specifically PNG.
Contact: Jill Key, Cordinator, Pacific Island Learning Network (PILN), SPREP, PO Box 240 Apia, Samoa
Souad Boudjelas, Program Manager, Pacific Invasives Inittiative
Wednesday 24 October 2007
2008 Pacific Year of the Reef information briefing
2008 has been designated International Year of the Coral Reef (IYOR) by the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). The International Year of the Reef aims to effectively communicate the value and importance of the world’s coral reefs and the threats to the reefs’ sustainability, and to motivate target audiences to take action to protect coral reefs. The first IYOR was declared and implemented in 1997 in response to the increasing threats and loss of coral reefs and associated ecosystems. It was a global effort to raise awareness and understanding of coral reefs and the threats they face, and support related conservation, research and management efforts. Despite its success in raising global awareness of coral reefs and associated ecosystems, ten years later, there remains an urgent need to increase awareness, to take action, further conserve and manage coral reefs and associated ecosystems, and appreciate their value to humanity. The Pacific Year of the Reef will be facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) based in Apia.
Contact: Caroline Vieux, Coral Reef Managment Officer, SPREP Po Box 240 Apia, Samoa
Postgraduate Diploma in Protected Area Management for Pacific Island Countries/Launching of the Darwin Pacific Island Community Conservation Course (PICCC) Initiative
This side event will describe the Pacific Island Community-Based Conservation Course that has been jointly run by USP and SPREP since 2000. Darwin Funding to expand the initiative has been received and input will be sought on priority topics to be covered in a flexible-mode expansion of this initiative. Graduates from the course will be asked to briefly comment on the course and how it has helped them undertake conservation in the region and how it might be improved. The current PICCC is an intensive face-to-face training of seven weeks sandwiched around 5 months of project work at the home site. Emphasis is placed on learning new conservation tools, group learning and developing professional skills.
Contact: Bill Aalbersberg, Director, Institute of Applied Science, USP, PO Box 1168, Suva, Fiji
Ecosystem Based Management/Approach
The side event will feature three presentations on practical applications of the Ecosystem Based Management/Approach, followed by a discussion. Confirmed speakers are Kesaia Tabunakawai, who will speak about the challenges regarding applying the Ecosystem Based Management in Fiji and Alissa Takesy, who will present on FSM's experience in applying the ecosystem approach in their protected areas network.
Contact: Ana Tiraa, Island Biodiversity Officer, SPREP, PO Box 240 Apia, Samoa
Kesaia Tabunakawai, WWF, Fiji
Alissa Takesy, Division of Resource Management and Development, Dept of Economic Affairs, FSM
Community Conservation & the Law
Innovative use of law and custom has the potential to deliver community-focused, community-driven conservation outcomes. Increasing pressure on natural resources, and a rapidly changing governance context, requires coordinated responses by government, non-government partners and communities. The session relates to the sub-themes of the conference by promoting local capacity building and good governance for: (1) identification, safeguarding and conservation of priority sites, habitats and ecosystems; and, (2) safeguarding and restoring indigenous species of ecological or cultural significance. This session will provide a forum for discussing the role of law in supporting community-based conservation, and the potential for building regional capacity in the field of environmental law.
Contact:
IUCN Redlist Planning Meeting
A sound knowledge of species found in the region and information on their conservation status and distribution is needed to provide the foundation for making informed decisions to deal with these challenges and conserve biodiversity at local, regional and global levels. However, there are currently many gaps in knowledge of species in the Pacific region. The IUCN Red Lists are widely recognized as the most comprehensive, apolitical approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species, and there is strong support in the Pacific for updating and improving the information in the Red Lists as a foundation for conservation work in the region. IUCN along with key regional partners are planning to take action to update the Red Lists for the region and to support Pacific island countries and territories in using this information effectively. This side event will provide details on this initiative.
Contact:
Thursday 25 october 2007
Strategic Conservation Planning
There are a number of different approaches to mapping ecosystems/habitats/ species/sites, and a variety of ways in which this information is used to identify priority areas for conservation activities. In this session the focus is on explaining the various methods used, encourage technical discussion and suggesting ways of working together to maximize the effectiveness of the outcomes and sharing data and use in the Pacific (between conservation organisations, government bodies and communities).
Contact Roger James for Key Biodiversity Areas in Melanesia mailto: rjames@conservation.org or Angela Kirkman, Communication Manager, Melanesia CBC, Pacific Islands, CI, PO Box 780, Atherton, QLD, 4883, Australia.
LMMAs - Supporting Communities in Their Sustainable Resources Management and Well-being: A Practical Approach to Conservation
Supporting communities identify and attain their own broader objectives appears to result in communities designing and implementing practical and appropriate plans that achieve on-the-ground impacts in terms of sustainable use, community wellbeing and also ‘conservation’. The discussion will focus on the cross-sharing of real experiences by Pacific community members, and practitioners working with them, in the benefits and challenges of locally managed marine areas. This side event seeks to facilitate an open and honest discussion particularly reflecting community perspectives, practices and experiences in the area of ‘conservation’ (recognizing different approaches) and in community resource management. It is hoped that participants will highlight a range of experiences across the Pacific.
Contact: Susan Ewen, Melanesian Programme, TNC
Economics, conservation and sustainable livelihoods in oceania
The main objective of this side event is to discuss ways of mainstreaming economics into conservation initiatives in Oceania (more information on this side event will be available shortly on the SPREP website at www.sprep.org)
Contact: Nicholas Conner, Pricipal Conservtaion Economist, Environment and Conservation, Section, NSW, Deptarment of Environment and Conservation, PO box A290, Sydney South 1232, 59-61, Goulbourn Street, Sydney 2000, Australia
ICRI CSI for Coral Reefs Project: Pacific Investigative & Enforcement Forensics
The Coral Reef CSI project consists of developing training materials, conducting field training workshops, and helping with the formation of regional rapid response teams designed to respond to large-scale injury events on coral reefs. As part of this effort, the ICRI Committee on Coral Reef Enforcement & Investigation have been working over the last year to develop a set of guidelines and training materials for conducting underwater injury investigations for a wide variety of injury events currently effecting coral reefs. The Committee have received funding from a number of sources, most notably the US Dept of State to finalize and produce these materials, and conduct regional field training workshops based on the successful pilot field training workshop held at last year's ITMEMS conference in Cozumel, Mexico. This effort was done as a result of the international coral reef decision-making body (ICRI) creating a Committee on Coral Reef Enforcement and Investigation to develop international guidelines and methods for conducting injury investigations to assist in mitigation, restoration, litigation, mediation, and prosecution. This side event will provide information regarding the Coral Reef CSI Project and seek input regarding an upcoming funded field training workshop specifically designed for South Pacific Island participants.
Contact: David Gulko, Division of Aquatic Resources, DLNR, State of Hawaii
Tools for understanding and responding to Climate Change in Melanesia
This side event will present an overview and report on initial findings and products from the Project “Climate Change and Biodiversity in Melanesia (CCBM): Assessing Vulnerability of Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems to Projected Climate Change” that the Bishop Museum and SPREP are undertaking. The presentation in this side-session will focus on explaining details of the project and reporting out on the preliminary results of assessments that have been done under Phase 1 of the project and the next Phase 2 carried out by SPREP. We hope that the audience will raise questions and offer feedback to the preliminary results, and engage the presenters in discussions of the data and information presented.
Contact: Dominique Benzaken, SPREP Former Coastal Mangement Adviser, PO Nox 240 Apia, Samoa
www.sprep.org/roundtable/documents/Toolsunstanding_climatechange_in_melanesia.pdf
FRIDAY 26 OCTOBER 2007
SEM-Pasifika Guidelines Launch
SEM-Pasifika is a socioeconomic monitoring guideline developed for sites in the Pacific, including non-marine protected or managed areas. The main purpose of SEM-Pasifika is to improve site management. It should guide interested communities in the Pacific region to be able to do socioeconomic monitoring, including communities who have used existing methods and new communities without experiences in socio-economic assessment. The main target groups of SEM-Pasifika are trainers and network members as primary target groups. These are people who are able to tailor guidelines to the needs of communities. These people include coastal managers, project staff, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) staff, students, and/researchers, trainees and communities as end users. Most likely they share the following traits of literacy, training and support from partners in monitoring, data analysis and presentation, interest in marine resource management, some type of management authority (community-based or formal) or ability/commitment to communicate results to the relevant management authority.
Contact: Caroline Vieux, Coral Reef Managment Officer, SPREP
Capacity Building within Formal and Non-formal Education Systems to Support the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans in the South Pacific
The Education for Biodiversity Conservation project is a regional project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of teachers and educational institutions to deliver quality education about biodiversity conservation to communities across the Pacific. The project is being implemented by Live and Learn Environmental Education’s Biodiversity Conservation team which includes a project coordinator based in Vanuatu and a team of Project officers in four pilot countries, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Long term project aims are to increase the awareness of young people and the broader community about biodiversity and conservation issues, build the capacity of communities to take action and to increase dialogue between government officers and community members on biodiversity issues. The broader aim of the project is to support the implementation of National Biodiversity Action Plans (NBSAP) in target countries. This session will be an opportunity for stakeholders to find out about the implementing organization Live and Learn Environmental Education, the project aims and objectives and its achievements so far.
Contact:
Launch of Global Environment Outlook 4 (GEO-4)
The side event aims to introduce governors and managers of natural resources and environments of the Pacific region to an important publication termed the Global Environment Outlook 4 or GEO 4, the latest comprehensive update of the conditions and trends of the global environment, and the potential implications of these environmental changes to the present and future development of life on the planet. This update was developed in the last two years (2005-2007) through an integrated environmental assessment process coordinated globally by the United Nations Environment Programme with the support of collaborating regional agencies or centres such as the University of the South Pacific and the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme in the Pacific region. GEO 4 provides valuable information resources and decision-making tools to inspire initiatives and facilitate the formulation of policies and commitments to reverse trends that undermines the viability of life support systems and the promotion of more sustainable cultures of living among peoples and communities of the planet. Copies of the publication will be made available to heads of government delegations, inter-governmental and non-governmental Organisations, and access will be made available for personal copies of other participants of the 8th Pacific Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas.
Contact: Tepa Suaesi, SPREP Environment Officer, Po Box 240 Apia Samoa
Saturday 27 october 2007
Building a More Collaborative and Systematic Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Pacific Region
The monitoring of biodiversity conditions is necessary to: assess trends in the wake of increasing threats to species, habitats, and ecosystems; communicate biodiversity status to a variety of stakeholders; and report progress in achieving the many targets and obligations currently in place in the Pacific region, including the Action Strategy for Nature Conservation. Even with increased attention on the importance of monitoring and evaluation in the Pacific, there has been limited emphasis on the sharing of data and techniques and on collaborative approaches to systematically monitor biodiversity. This side event will examine institutional, national, regional and global conservation targets and the data needed to evaluate them, facilitate the coordination and possible consolidation of existing and proposed monitoring work, and explore resource and capacity-building needs for monitoring in Oceania (Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia). Effective biodiversity conservation requires support and intense coordination among a wide range of governmental and civil society stakeholders. Cooperative participation in approaches to monitoring and evaluation offers the opportunity to realize conservation goals not achievable by any single party.
Contact: James Atherton, Pacific Islands Programme, Conservation International, Apia, Samoa
Pacific Protected Areas Database Planning
The provision of up-to-date, credible, and accessible data and information on protected areas will greatly facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of progress towards national, regional and global targets and provide the appropriate baseline to support management and sustainable use. Recognizing that there are significant disparities worldwide in access to PA information, resources, services and technologies, this side event will discuss strategies to organize protected area information and disseminate it globally while paying special attention to the needs of countries and territories with limited access to communications technology. Build in 2003, the Pacific Protected Areas Database is a work in progress to document all Protected Areas (PAs) in the Pacific islands region of Oceania (Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia). The PPAD project aims to strengthen the capacity of protected area networks for information flow, link and strengthen existing initiatives and provide a comprehensive source of protected area information across the region.
Contact: Bill Aalbersberg, Institute of Applied Acience, USP, Fiji
END OF CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, for more information please contact Kate Brown: mailto: kateb@sprep.org
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Conservation Serving Communities in a rapidly changing world
8th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas
22-26 October 2007 Alotau, Papua New Guinea
Background
In 1977, SPREP (then a programme within the South Pacific Commission) with the support of partner organizations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and IUCN, organized the first region-wide forum for discussing nature conservation issues of interest to the Pacific Islands. This initial meeting has since developed into the five yearly conference.
The sixth of this series of conferences was held in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia in 1997. It was organized around the theme “Tools for Conservation” and it brought together more than 150 delegates from all levels of civil society including regional and international organisations. Community leaders, scientists, policy makers, donor representatives, NGOs and government representatives interacted and shared experiences, lessons learnt and best practices for achieving nature conservation objectives.
The seventh conference was held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands in 2002. More than 330 people attended and the conference theme of “Mainstreaming Nature Conservation” reflected a desire by the conservation community to work with a broader group of stakeholders to achieve conservation outcomes. This was envisioned as the private sector, churches and the tourism industry to name a few. This conference led to the current iteration of the regional Action Strategy for Nature Conservation 2003 – 2007.
The success of this Conference reaffirmed the importance of having such mechanisms for the sharing of ideas and knowledge, for debating current and emerging issues and for setting regional priorities.
Papua New Guinea volunteered and was unanimously supported to host the 8th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in 2007. The Conference venue is Alotau, Milnebay Province.
For updates on the Conference please go to Roundtable Updates and Newsletters.
For any urgent quiries on the Conference please contact Kate Brown, Conference Manager: kateb@sprep.org or Ruth Pune, Conference Coordinator: ruthtp@sprep.org
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