The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) turned 33 years old today.
And to embrace digital transformation, innovation and flexibility, considered essential in delivering services to its members, the commemoration turned to technology and cyberspace, to encourage engagement from the Pacific and beyond.
The SPREP Open Day 2026 Pacific Environment and Innovation Webinar Series the first of its type for a SPREP Open Day, welcomed more than a hundred participants from SPREP Member countries, including students from colleges, universities, as well as interested public participants.
The webinar series, delivered live from SPREP’s Mana Studio at Vailima, featured six sessions showcasing SPREP’s work and expertise in Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change Resilience, Environmental Governance, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Climate Science and Information and Governance and Operations.
Director General, Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, welcomed the participants and took a moment to reflect on SPREP’s journey. It started in New Caledonia as a joint environmental programme of the South Pacific Forum, South Pacific Commission, with funding from the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
SPREP relocated to Samoa in 1992, operating with a small team of three professional officers and four support staff inside an old copra factory at Vaitele. On 16 June 1993, SPREP gained autonomy as an independent inter-governmental organisation following the signing of the Agreement Establishing SPREP in Apia. Since then, every year on 16 June, SPREP celebrates the anniversary of the Treaty signing.
“SPREP is mandated by our Pacific countries and territories to promote cooperation and provide assistance to protect and improve our environment, ensuring sustainable development for present and future generations,” Mr Nawadra said.
He acknowledged that SPREP has significantly grown and evolved over the years, with more than 160 staff, most based at its Vailima headquarters which also hosts two UN sub-regional offices.
SPREP also has a sub-regional office for the North Pacific in the Marshall Islands, an office in Fiji and project presence in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
“The services we provide have expanded in correlation to the emerging environmental challenges of the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, and the support required by our Pacific members to meet them,” added Mr Nawadra.
“SPREP is a family. Our success is about our collective effort as SPREP Members, partners, donors, SPREP Staff, SPREP Community and the SPREP Family."
“As we celebrate SPREP Day this year, I want to thank all our Pacific member countries, our partners and donors. We would not be here today without your support. We look forward to this continued partnership on our collective journey towards a resilient Pacific environment.”