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Objective: The objective of the meeting is to have an open dialogue to share experiences, and challenges and explore opportunities in addressing biodiversity conservation goals in the Pacific with a focus on linkages to traditional knowledge and sustainable development goals.

The conference is the first-ever “Dialogue Forum” on Traditional Knowledge for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Pacific 30 May – 1st of June 2022 at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva. The meeting will be held face to face but accessible virtually for countries and participants) that are unable to attend in person.  

The meeting will bring together officials from the government, non-government and civil society groups, research organizations and academia, the private sector, development partners, and community representatives to discuss how traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity can be protected and used for achieving sustainable developments goals of the Pacific.  

  1. The meeting will be held at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva from 30th May - 1st June Face to Face and will also be available virtually.
  2. The meeting is organized by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme through the ABS Regional Project implemented by UN Environment in collaboration with the ABS Capacity Development Initiative.
  3. The meeting will bring together officials from the government, non-government and civil society groups, research organizations and academia, the private sector, development partners, and community representatives to discuss how traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity can be protected and used for achieving sustainable developments goals of the Pacific. Participants at the meeting are from across the Pacific Region.
  • The details of the meeting are as follows:
Session Modality / further information
Opening Session This session will include opening remarks from CROP and other agencies involved in Biodiversity conservation and associated Traditional Knowledge.   As the host country, a High-Level official from the Government of Fiji will also be invited to speak.     To have statements from Heads of Organizations in the leading role in line with the theme of the meeting to set the agenda for in-depth/technical discussions at the forum.
Session 1-4   Topic for session 1: This session focus on the inclusion of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources in national policies   Topic for Session 2: The state of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources and solutions to safeguard it     Topic for Session 3: Establishing a dialogue between Indigenous peoples and local communities and decision-makers for knowledge sharing.   The topic for Session 4: Traditional Knowledge, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development – building partnerships and trust. There will be five guest speakers invited at this session. The speakers will make short interventions sharing their thoughts, experiences and lessons learned relating to the topic.  Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions or make comments after all the presenters have completed their presentations.   A group work session following the Q& A will allow participants to move into a smaller working group to have a more in-depth discussion on the topic. (There will be lead questions and facilitators to assist)   Participants joining remotely will be automatically moved into virtual groups for their discussions.   At the end of the session, the meeting will reconvene and hear the views of all the groups at the Plenary and allow for an open dialogue on the issues being discussed.
Closing Session This session will formally close the meeting. It is intended to use this session to provide a summary of the meeting and general outcomes.    At the closing session, SPREP will also launch major technical reports for the Pacific on access and benefit-sharing under the Nagoya Protocol.
Youth Session A dedicated, focused and special session will be held on the third day of the meeting with the Youths. The aim is to engage the Youth on issues pertaining to biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and linkages to traditional knowledge.
First Working Group Meeting of the PIRT Nature Culture WG The closed session will be held on the third day with members of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Culture Working Group.
  • All participants at the meeting will be required to be registered. The details for registration will be made available on the Facebook and Twitter handles of SPREP or could be provided by emailing [email protected]
  • All participants at the face-to-face meeting with proper registration and ID cards that will be issued on the first day of the conference will have full access to the meeting venue which includes all sessions of the meeting, display booths, morning tea, afternoon tea, and lunch. Participants will not be able to access the internet from the conference venue however personal mobile internet devices can be used.
  • The working language at the meeting will be English. All sessions (Session 1-4) will be available on the zoom platform for participants to join virtually. Some sessions will be live-streamed on SPREP YouTube channel. 

 In view of the Health & Safety of all participants, the meeting facility will provide hand sanitizers at various locations within the hotel. Although social distancing is no longer a requirement of the Fijian Government, the organizers will ensure that there will be ample space for seating and that meeting rooms are properly sanitized and not crowded. The hotel has a center from which participants can also purchase RAT testing kits in case of any need. Emergency Contact details will be provided at the meeting venue to all participants.