SPREP is the regional organisation established by the Governments and Administrations of the Pacific charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources of the Pacific.

The Headquarters is based in Apia, Samoa with other SPREP offices in Fiji, Solomons, the Republic of the Marshalls Islands and Vanuatu.  SPREP has around 150 staff recruited from around the Pacific region and the world and has an annual budget of approximately USD35 million in 2022.

The establishment of SPREP in 1993 sends a clear signal to the global community of the deep commitment of Pacific Island Governments and Administrations for better management of the environment within the context of sustainable development.

The strategic direction for SPREP is clearly set out in the 2017-2026 SPREP Strategic Plan. The Plan outlines the mandate, vision and programmes for the organisation, and places strong emphasis on effective delivery of services to SPREP Member countries and territories.

Click here for more information on Our History and Backstory.

Mandate

SPREP’s mandate is to promote cooperation in the Pacific region and provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment and to ensure sustainable development for present and future generations.

Vision

SPREP is guided by its vision for the future: “A resilient Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures”.

Organisational structure

  1. Secretariat: SPREP is headed by the Director General and its Headquarters is hosted by the Government of Samoa. Further host country agreements exist with Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Republic of Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  2. SPREP Meeting - The Biennial SPREP Meeting is the plenary decision-making body established by the SPREP Agreement. SPREP meetings are attended by Members and Observers. The Meeting provides a forum for Members to consult on matters of common concern with regard to the protection and improvement of the environment of the region as well as having the authority to adopt and implement decisions necessary for the functioning of SPREP.
  3. Executive Board - the Executive Board was established in 2015 as a scaled down SPREP Meeting to meet in alternate years to the SPREP Meeting. The Executive Board is appointed by the SPREP Meeting and is subordinate to it, with no power to make decisions that require input of all SPREP Members. The Executive Board is guided by principles of environmental leadership, equity, transparency, accountability, flexibility, economy and sustainability in line with the practices and procedures of the Pacific region.

Members

SPREP is comprised of 26 Members scattered over thousands of kilometres of ocean sharing common elements of culture, history, and environment. The membership consists of 14 Pacific Island countries, 7 territories and 5 metropolitan states with a direct interest in the region. The combined EEZs of the Pacific Island countries and territories covers 30 million km2 but the land area of this ocean realm only covers two percent of this huge area.

SPREP Member countries and territories are: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Marianas, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis & Futuna and five metropolitan countries, Australia, France, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Visit our Member Country Profiles section for more information.

Four regional goals to achieving resilience and sustainable Pacific communities:

Regional Goal 1 - Pacific people benefit from strengthened resilience to climate change

Regional Goal 2 - Pacific people benefit from healthy and resilient island and ocean ecosystems

Regional Goal 3 - Pacific people benefit from improved waste management and pollution control

Regional Goal 4 - Pacific people and their environment benefit from commitment to and best practice of environmental governance

These define the core priorities and focus of SPREP in the areas of:

  1. Climate Change Resilience - For Pacific Island Members, the economic, social, and environmental costs of climate change and disasters are high and forecast to increase. As host of the Pacific Climate Change Centre, SPREP will deliver on its mandate as coordinator of Pacific climate change action.
  2. Island and Ocean Ecosystems - SPREP provides regional leadership and technical guidance and serves as a conduit for Member states in optimising the implementation of global MEAs and regional environmental frameworks. It is also the secretariat of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation and with other organisations implements the Regional Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected areas.
  3. Waste Management and Pollution Control - SPREP has the lead responsibility for regional coordination and delivery of waste management and pollution control action and uses the strategic management framework, Cleaner Pacific 2025, in guiding regional cooperation and collaboration.
  4. Environmental Monitoring and Governance - SPREP plays a lead role in assisting countries to develop capacity in environmental governance, policy development, planning, environmental impact assessment, monitoring, and reporting for sustainable environmental outcomes and to keep pace with socio-economic development.

SPREP approaches the environmental challenges faced by the Pacific guided by four simple Values. These values guide all aspects of our work.

  • We value the Environment
  • We value our People
  • We value high quality and targeted Service Delivery
  • We value Integrity

The SPREP Secretariat continues to strengthen and realign its institutional capacities, competencies, and systems to best support its Members by delivering more integrated, responsive, and cost-effective services to Members and partners and by better coordinating regional efforts.

Organisation Goal 1
SPREP has information, knowledge, and communications systems that get the right information to the right people at the right time and influence positive organisational, behavioural and environmental change.  

Organisation Goal 2
SPREP has multi-disciplinary processes in programme delivery and in supporting members to develop national and regional policies and strategies.

Organisation Goal 3
SPREP has a reliable and sustainable funding base to achieve environmental outcomes for the benefit of the Pacific islands region and manages its programmes and operations to stay within its agreed budget.   

Organisation Goal 4
SPREP is leading and engaged in productive partnerships and collaboration.   

Organisation Goal 5
SPREP has access to a pool of people with the attitudes, knowledge, and skills to enable it to deliver on its shared regional vision.

Our Team

You can view our staff list at the Our Team section.