Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Press Release: Nature Conservation (reprinted with permission)
11/11/10
18,000 people from around the world gathered recently in Nagoya, Japan at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10).
14 countries in the Pacific are members of the CBD and the “Pacific voice” was well represented in Nagoya.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) worked in partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) in the Pacific region to provide support and advice to the Pacific delegations at Nagoya.
The meeting discussed how to address the dramatic loss of biodiversity currently occurring on earth. In fact one species is being lost every 38 minutes!
Delegates responded with a new commitment to “Live in Harmony with Nature”.
The conference agreed a number of outcomes, which have significance globally and for our Pacific region.
The Strategic Plan of the CBD or the “Aichi Target” was adopted at Nagoya. This is the new global plan to save the World’s biodiversity and includes a number of ambitious targets.
The “Aichi Target” includes a commitment to halve, and where feasible, bring close to zero the loss of natural habitats and also to protect 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of marine areas. Also included are measures to control invasive species and to increase awareness of the values of biodiversity.
“We are pleased to welcome the Aichi Target as a guide for our region to work towards,” said David Sheppard, the Director of SPREP.
“The targets are within our reach as the Pacific region has worked diligently to protect our unique biodiversity. We can boast the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in Kiribati – the largest marine protected area on earth – now a World Heritage Site. In our Pacific region we also have the Micronesia Challenge, a commitment by the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam and the Northern Marianas to conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. The “Aichi Target” will help us strengthen our conservation work across the Pacific.”
Another key outcome from the conference was the Nagoya Protocol covering the access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use.
As an example, and hypothetically, if a pharmaceutical company from Switzerland discovered a plant in the Solomon Islands which could lead to a drug which cured cancer, then that company would now be obliged to share the profits arising with the country.
This historic agreement is of great importance to the Pacific region.
It ensures that balanced access to genetic resources on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms. The Nagoya Protocol also ensures the fair and equitable sharing of benefits while taking into account the important role of traditional knowledge.
It is expected the Nagoya Protocol will be in force by 2015. The Global Environment Facility has offered financial support to assist with the early entry into force of this Protocol.
“We have seen history in the making,” said Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Mr Isikeli Mataitoga the Head of delegation for Fiji. He added:
“The adoption of the ABS protocol is a major step forward in bringing equity and fairness in the sharing of the profits made by the developed world from the biodiversity resources of the developing world, including the small island developing states.”
The current challenge for Pacific countries is to translate these key outcomes into national biodiversity strategies and to secure support from the international community for their implementation.
Many substantial commitments were made by countries at Nagoya, including a commitment by the Government of Japan of $2billion US to help developing countries protect their biodiversity.
“For us in this region, it means working towards identifying opportunities and innovative ways to take these outcomes forward. We have agreed to the Aichi Target now we need to see how and where we can incorporate the different objectives into work we are doing at the national and regional level in the Pacific,” said Easter Galuvao, the Biodiversity Adviser of SPREP.
“In some cases we are on track with the targets, in other cases we need to work harder in a concerted and holistic manner as a region so that by 2020, the Pacific region can once again showcase to the world what we have accomplished as part of our contribution to save our biodiversity.”
These are just several of the many achievements of the biodiversity conference in Nagoya.
There were many more for the Pacific region. Representation from the region ensured a strong Pacific presence was felt and heard as they were a vocal part of the negotiations.
A communications campaign – “The Pacific Voyage” helped ensure Pacific visibility was high and our voices heard at the gathering of 18,000 participants with promotional materials and events which highlighted conservation successes in the Pacific as well as an event which promoted the different types of communication and awareness raising activities on nature conservation.
For SPREP the meeting has helped provide the guide for future work with the different member countries as the region strives to meet the Aichi Targets to help save global biodiversity.
Notes
The 14 Pacific island parties to the CBD are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Our core partners who worked closely with us as part of the Pacific Voyage in Nagoya are The Secretariat of the Pacific Community, WWF South Pacific, Greenpeace Pacific, Wildlife Conservation Society, IUCN Oceania.
Support was also provided from GLISPA the Global Island Partnership, Ms. Neva Collings on ABS and Article 8)j) and Ms. Mae Adams from TNC.
Related Link:
The full 2020 Headline Targets – Advance Unedited Text – Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
Maui Stream Flows
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Posted on November 1, 2012 by Laura Brewington
Court rules on Maui stream flows
In August 2012, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled to vacate a 2010 decision made by the state Commission on Water Resource Management that impacts stream flows in Nā Wai ʻEhā, or the four great waters of Maui.
Two Maui community groups and the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs appealed the June 2010 water commission decision that amended instream flow standards for the Waiheʻe River and the Waiehu, ʻĪao, and Waikapū streams on Maui. Currently, much of the water that once flowed in Nā Wai ʻEhā is being diverted for commercial use. Commissioner Lawrence Miike dissented the 2010 decision, and had recommended restoring around half of the approximately 70 million gallons a day (mgd) diverted. The commission decision had restored only 12.5 mgd, setting a standard that left two of the streams completely dry.
The state supreme court justices concluded that the water commission had failed to properly consider traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices and the public’s rights to flowing streams. Further, the court ruled that the commission needed to more thoroughly investigate and consider possible alternative water sources, such as non-potable wells and recycled wastewater. The court remanded the case back to the commission for a new decision that is consistent with the court’s ruling.
“When I look at ʻĪao and Waikapū Streams, they’re bone-dry, nothing but skeletal remains,” Rose Marie Hoʻoululāhui Lindsey Duey of Hui o Nā Wai ʻEhā told Earth Justice. “The supreme court’s decision restores my hope that the law stands for something, and that each of Nā Wai ʻEhā’s four streams will flow like justice from mauka (mountain) to makai (ocean).”
Hawaiian farmers in Nā Wai ʻEhā have long sought to end diversions and restore stream water, which supports traditional taro farming, native freshwater species, and near-shore fisheries, among other traditional practices and resources. This conflict over diversion of the Nā Wai ʻEhā began decades ago, and the ruling is considered a major victory for taro-farming communities on Maui. Like the landmark Waiāhole decision in 2000, the court’s August 2012 ruling affirms the commission’s duty to enforce legal mandates of the public trust and has significant implications for future water commission decisions.
Photos: The ʻĪao stream flowing above diversion point (top) and the dry stream bed below the diversions. Source: Earthjustice 2012
Pacific Islands Climate Forum
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Posted on October 31, 2012 by Laura Brewington
The Pacific Islands Climate Forum, presented by the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment (PIRCA), will be held on Monday, December 10, 2012, 9 am – 12 pm, at the Hawai’i Imin Conference Center on the University of Hawai’i at Manoa campus.
The Forum will consist of an interactive dialogue with climate experts and sectors leaders from across Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands region, and will feature an opening address by the Honorable Brian Schatz, Lt. Governor of the State of Hawai’i.
The event is sponsored by Pacific RISA, Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, USFWS Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office, USGS Pacific Islands Climate Science Center, and NOAA NESDIS NCDC Regional Climate Services.
To see the official announcement, click the image to the right. Please RSVP online at http://tinyurl.com/pircaforum
Yale Climate Change Study
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Posted on October 26, 2012 by Laura Brewington
Yale study: Climate change in the American mind
Yale University’s Project on Climate Change Communication has released a new study on October 18, 2012, titled “Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in September 2012”. Some highlights of the study include:
For more information and to download the report, please visit the project’s website at http://environment.yale.edu/climate/news/Climate-Beliefs-September-2012/.
Climate Change Poem
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Posted on July 26, 2012 by Laura Brewington
Marshall Islander Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner Presents Poem on Climate Change
Marshall Islander Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner’s poem “Tell Them” has recently been receiving increased attention online. The poem represents a unique viewpoint on the effects of climate change, from the perspective of an artist and a native Islander. The poem in its entirety can be found below.
“A poet, writer, artist, and journalist, Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner studied creative writing at Mills College and taught as a Student Teacher Poet (STP) with Poetry for the People. She has participated in Youthspeaks Hawaii, the artist collective formally known as The Bombshelter Crew and the queer Pacific Islander artist collective One Love Oceania (OLO), and Voices of Our Nations (VONA). She has also performed “Iep Jaltok” at various solo performance theater venues including City Solo, Third Root Art Collective’s “For Colored Girls Only” show, and CounterPulse’s “Words First.” She currently writes the blog Iep Jaltok (yiyip jalteq), the title of which refers to “a basket whose opening is facing the speaker.” The term, Jetnil-Kijiner writes, also is used to describe “female children” who represent “a basket whose contents are made available to her relatives. Also refers to matrilineal society of the Marshallese.”” (http://jacket2.org/commentary/ocean-leveling-land-0, accessed 7/25/12)
A video of Jetnil-Kijiner performing her poem can be found here. More information about Jetnil-Kijiner can be found on her blog: http://jkijiner.wordpress.com/.
“Tell Them”
I prepared the package for my friends in the states the dangling earrings woven into half moons black pearls glinting like an eye in a storm of tight spirals the baskets sturdy, also woven brown cowry shells shiny intricate mandalas shaped by calloused fingers Inside the basket a message: Wear these earrings to parties to your classes and meetings to the grocery store, the corner store and while riding the bus Store jewelry, incense, copper coins and curling letters like this one in this basket and when others ask you where you got this you tell them they’re from the Marshall Islands show them where it is on a map tell them we are a proud people toasted dark brown as the carved ribs of a tree stump tell them we are descendents of the finest navigators in the world tell them our islands were dropped from a basket carried by a giant tell them we are the hollow hulls of canoes as fast as the wind slicing through the pacific sea we are wood shavings and drying pandanus leaves and sticky bwiros at kemems tell them we are sweet harmonies of grandmothers mothers aunties and sisters songs late into night tell them we are whispered prayers the breath of God a crown of fushia flowers encircling aunty mary’s white sea foam hair tell them we are styrofoam cups of koolaid red waiting patiently for the ilomij tell them we are papaya golden sunsets bleeding into a glittering open sea we are skies uncluttered majestic in their sweeping landscape we are the ocean terrifying and regal in its power tell them we are dusty rubber slippers swiped from concrete doorsteps we are the ripped seams and the broken door handles of taxis we are sweaty hands shaking another sweaty hand in heat tell them we are days and nights hotter than anything you can imagine tell them we are little girls with braids cartwheeling beneath the rain we are shards of broken beer bottles burrowed beneath fine white sand we are children flinging like rubber bands across a road clogged with chugging cars tell them we only have one road and after all this tell them about the water how we have seen it rising flooding across our cemeteries gushing over the sea walls and crashing against our homes tell them what it’s like to see the entire ocean__level___with the land tell them we are afraid tell them we don’t know of the politics or the science but tell them we see what is in our own backyard tell them that some of us are old fishermen who believe that God made us a promise some of us are more skeptical of God but most importantly tell them we don’t want to leave we’ve never wanted to leave and that we are nothing without our islands.Climate Forecast Success Story
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Posted on February 14, 2011 by Laura Brewington
PVT landfill prepared for the storms
A blue ribbon panel will meet to discuss future landfill options on Oahu. In the meantime, the state is still investigating last month’s medical waste spill at Waimanalo Gulch. One key question is why weren’t storm runoff systems built before rains pounded the Gulch? To get a sense of how it’s supposed to work, HPR’s Ben Markus visited a nearby landfill that managed to weather the storms. [source: Hawaii Public Radio]
On October 6, 2010, WFO Honolulu at their “wet season” press conference provided an outlook which indicated La Nina, wetter than normal conditions, and possibly of heavy rainfall events during January — April 2011. Based upon this forecast, PVT Land Company Ltd., spent $300,000 upgrading their storm runoff system for heavy rain situations at their privately owned landfill operating on Oahu’s west coast since 1985. The PVT landfill is a construction and demolition material solid waste landfill that is also licensed to accept asbestos-containing materials and petroleum-contaminated soil. Following a very heavy rain event on January 12, 2011, the landfill was able to open the next day because of the previous preparations they had completed saving thousands of dollars and possible very high Environmental Protection Agency fines. A nearby municipal landfill was closed by Environmental Protection Agency for 2 weeks and will face EPA fines after the event because the landfill released storm runoff contaminated by medical waste and other debris into the ocean. Syringes, vials and other waste washed up on nearby beaches for days. ( Listen to story at http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/content/pvt-landfill-prepared-storms)
Prepared by Jim Weyman (Director, Pacific ENSO Application Center) based on a Hawaii Public Radio Story by Ben Markus.
Pacific Biodiversity Targets
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Posted on November 12, 2010 by Laura Brewington
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Press Release: Nature Conservation (reprinted with permission)
11/11/10
18,000 people from around the world gathered recently in Nagoya, Japan at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10).
14 countries in the Pacific are members of the CBD and the “Pacific voice” was well represented in Nagoya.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) worked in partnership with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) in the Pacific region to provide support and advice to the Pacific delegations at Nagoya.
The meeting discussed how to address the dramatic loss of biodiversity currently occurring on earth. In fact one species is being lost every 38 minutes!
Delegates responded with a new commitment to “Live in Harmony with Nature”.
The conference agreed a number of outcomes, which have significance globally and for our Pacific region.
The Strategic Plan of the CBD or the “Aichi Target” was adopted at Nagoya. This is the new global plan to save the World’s biodiversity and includes a number of ambitious targets.
The “Aichi Target” includes a commitment to halve, and where feasible, bring close to zero the loss of natural habitats and also to protect 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of marine areas. Also included are measures to control invasive species and to increase awareness of the values of biodiversity.
“We are pleased to welcome the Aichi Target as a guide for our region to work towards,” said David Sheppard, the Director of SPREP.
“The targets are within our reach as the Pacific region has worked diligently to protect our unique biodiversity. We can boast the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in Kiribati – the largest marine protected area on earth – now a World Heritage Site. In our Pacific region we also have the Micronesia Challenge, a commitment by the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam and the Northern Marianas to conserve at least 30% of the near-shore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. The “Aichi Target” will help us strengthen our conservation work across the Pacific.”
Another key outcome from the conference was the Nagoya Protocol covering the access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use.
As an example, and hypothetically, if a pharmaceutical company from Switzerland discovered a plant in the Solomon Islands which could lead to a drug which cured cancer, then that company would now be obliged to share the profits arising with the country.
This historic agreement is of great importance to the Pacific region.
It ensures that balanced access to genetic resources on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms. The Nagoya Protocol also ensures the fair and equitable sharing of benefits while taking into account the important role of traditional knowledge.
It is expected the Nagoya Protocol will be in force by 2015. The Global Environment Facility has offered financial support to assist with the early entry into force of this Protocol.
“We have seen history in the making,” said Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan, H.E Mr Isikeli Mataitoga the Head of delegation for Fiji. He added:
“The adoption of the ABS protocol is a major step forward in bringing equity and fairness in the sharing of the profits made by the developed world from the biodiversity resources of the developing world, including the small island developing states.”
The current challenge for Pacific countries is to translate these key outcomes into national biodiversity strategies and to secure support from the international community for their implementation.
Many substantial commitments were made by countries at Nagoya, including a commitment by the Government of Japan of $2billion US to help developing countries protect their biodiversity.
“For us in this region, it means working towards identifying opportunities and innovative ways to take these outcomes forward. We have agreed to the Aichi Target now we need to see how and where we can incorporate the different objectives into work we are doing at the national and regional level in the Pacific,” said Easter Galuvao, the Biodiversity Adviser of SPREP.
“In some cases we are on track with the targets, in other cases we need to work harder in a concerted and holistic manner as a region so that by 2020, the Pacific region can once again showcase to the world what we have accomplished as part of our contribution to save our biodiversity.”
These are just several of the many achievements of the biodiversity conference in Nagoya.
There were many more for the Pacific region. Representation from the region ensured a strong Pacific presence was felt and heard as they were a vocal part of the negotiations.
A communications campaign – “The Pacific Voyage” helped ensure Pacific visibility was high and our voices heard at the gathering of 18,000 participants with promotional materials and events which highlighted conservation successes in the Pacific as well as an event which promoted the different types of communication and awareness raising activities on nature conservation.
For SPREP the meeting has helped provide the guide for future work with the different member countries as the region strives to meet the Aichi Targets to help save global biodiversity.
Notes
The 14 Pacific island parties to the CBD are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Our core partners who worked closely with us as part of the Pacific Voyage in Nagoya are The Secretariat of the Pacific Community, WWF South Pacific, Greenpeace Pacific, Wildlife Conservation Society, IUCN Oceania.
Support was also provided from GLISPA the Global Island Partnership, Ms. Neva Collings on ABS and Article 8)j) and Ms. Mae Adams from TNC.
Related Link:
The full 2020 Headline Targets – Advance Unedited Text – Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
Leave a Comment
Posted on October 20, 2010 by Laura Brewington
PaCIS Water and Climate Dialogues
RISA Project Assistant Attends PaCIS Water and Climate Dialogue in Guam and American Samoa
Pacific RISA Project Assistant Rachel Miller participated in two dialogues conducted by the Pacific Climate Information System (PaCIS) in Guam and American Samoa in September exploring local water and drought issues in light of the effects of climate change.
In September 2010 Pacific RISA Project Assistant Rachel Miller participated in two dialogues conducted by the Pacific Climate Information System (PaCIS) in Guam and American Samoa entitled “Dialogue with Local Decision-makers about Water Resource and Drought-related Issues in Light of a Changing Climate.” Miller traveled with a team of 5 researchers from various branches of NOAA as well as the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative (PICCC) to Guam on September 13-15, and to American Samoa on September 20-23. The team conducted meetings in both places with diverse stakeholders to discuss local needs, capacity, and decision-making capabilities in regard to water resources and climate change more broadly.
Team members and others at a networking meeting in Guam (L-R):
Frank Hays, Jenny Coffman (Guam NPS), Rachel Miller, Charlene Felkley, Doug Harper, Victor Torres (Guam BSP-GCM), Mark Lander (Univeristy of Guam WERI), Team Leader John Marra
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Posted on September 10, 2010 by Laura Brewington
New Regional Plan to Conserve Pacific Wetlands
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Press Release: Nature Conservation (reprinted with permission)
9/1/2010
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.
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.
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.
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
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Resilient and sustainable Pacific Island communities using climate information to manage risks and support practical decision-making about climate variability and change.
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