A regular update of news from CEPF's East Melanesian Islands

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Halo evriwan! In this final issue of the year, we share with you updates and stories from CEPF grantees active in the East Melanesian Islands. We invite you to share your project stories with us!

FROM THE RIT

RIT Team Planning

The RIT recently came together in to join the IUCN Oceania Regional Office planning retreat, and to carry out their own strategic planning for 2020.

The team mapped out priorities for training, capacity building, and filling gaps in funding over the final 18 months of CEPF’s investment in East Melanesia. The team also received refresher training on CEPF processes including finances, and spent time reviewing the Letters of Inquiry received in the most recent Call for Proposals.

Please send the team your plans for field and project activities in 2020, so that we can arrange to meet and support you better!

Vatu Molisa, Vanuatu; Zola Sangga, PNG; Ravin Dhari, ; Helen Pippard

New grants in process

Three new small grants were contracted by IUCN in Q3 2019: Oceania Ecology Group for work on giant rats in Solomon Islands and Bougainville; Mai Maasina Green Belt, to build a conservation network in ; and Eco-Lifelihood Development Associates, to strengthen the capacity of this group for biodiversity conservation in Vanuatu. A number of grants from previous calls are being finalised and are expected to be contracted in the next quarter.

Following the latest, and possibly final, Call for Proposals in November 2019, CEPF and the RIT are now in the process of reviewing received LOIs. With the investment in EMI into its final stages, the RIT (small grants) and CEPF (large grants) will aim to contract all successful proposals by April 2020.

Waterfall in Rotokas, Bougainville

Partners meeting on

The island of Kolombangara in Solomon Islands is an important site for a number of donors and partners. CEPF is co-funding a project with Rainforest Trust, which sees WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and KIBCA (the Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association) working with the tribal landowners and other key partners towards formal protection, particularly of the customary land area above 400m.

Ravin and Helen recently joined representatives from WCS, Rainforest Trust, KIBCA, FAO’s Integrated Forest Donors and partners at Imbu Rano lodge Management program, Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd, Dughore Women’s Association and Kolombangara Island Council of Chiefs at Imbu Rano, and from FAO IMF, the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) and Kolombangara Land Trust Foundation in . The aim was to ensure that all partners and donors coordinate and collaborate for successful delivery of activities, not only to establish a PA for the island, but also to explore relevant and locally driven livelihood options alongside any formal protection.

Meeting in Honiara – FAO, CEPF/IUCN, KIBCA, WCS We all look forward to continuing with this process, which is vital for the future of this remarkable island and its communities.

FROM THE FIELD

A list of all small and large grants currently active in the East Melanesian Islands can be found here

First Forest Protected Area for the Solomon Islands!!

On 26th November 2019, the land of the Sirebe Tribe in was declared a Protected Area under the Protected Area Act 2010 and regulations 2012. This tribal area is located along the Kolombangara River in

the Mount Maetambe- Kolombangara River KBA, one of CEPF’s priority sites for conservation efforts in the country.

The Sirebe Tribe will also be the first tribe in the country to trade carbon credits. CEPF grantee Natural Resources Development Foundation (NRDF) has been working with the Sirebe tribe to introduce this scheme, called the Nakau Programme, so that the Sirebe community can sell carbon offsets and conservation credits, thereby switching from forest clearance to a conservation model that protects forests. During the ceremony, Sirebe was presented with a payment of SBD 100,000 to kick off and trial their Forest Carbon Project. The Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon. Dr Culwick Sirebe will start supplying their first credits to the Togamana, officially launches and declares formal European market by early 2020. gazettal of the Sirebe Forest Conservation Area (SFCA) as the First National Terrestrial Protected Area under CEPF is happy to have co-supported the various tribes the Protected Areas Act 2010! in the Mt Maetambe-Kolombangara River KBA since 2013, through the work of Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands and NRDF. The success of this Protected Area process came from the collaboration and commitment of national (MECDM) and provincial (Choiseul) government; the Lauru Land Conference of tribal communities and the tribal chiefs of Babatana; NGOs such as the Nakau programme, WWF, EKOS and Live and Learn; and from other donors such as Bread for the World, the EU, USAID and the GEF5 funded FAO IMF project.

Press release can be seen here NRDF’s Wilko Bosma handing over a payment of SBD$100,000 to Sirebe tribe for initial payment of the Carbon Credit scheme from Nakau.

Mai Maasina Green Belt hold Strategic Planning day

During the 2016 CEPF Grantee Exchange held in Honiara, a group of young conservation advocators from Are Are and Kwaio in Malaita came together and established the Mai Maasina Green Belt. Its primary vision is to work towards a “Green” Malaita by tackling logging and supporting its member communities to move towards Protected Area establishment.

With monetary support from IUCN, through the CEPF small grants program, the group aims to strengthen its organizational structure and policies, develop a strategic plan, and explore alternative sources of income such as carbon trading, bee-keeping, kava farming and ecotourism.

During October, Ravin Dhari, Solomon Islands Country Coordinator, attended the group’s first planning day in Are Are, West Malaita. Eleven members of the Mai Maasina Green Belt Initiative successfully came together to review the organization’s constitution and begin strategic planning for the future of conservation on Malaita.

Edenhope Workshop, Tasmate village, Vanuatu

From 19-22 November 2019, Edenhope Foundation convened the first meeting of the Santo Sunset Environment Network under their current CEPF large grant project, which aims to support local indigenous communities with the registration of Community Conservation Areas throughout the Santo Mountain Chain KBA. Hosted by Tasmate community on West Coast Santo, the workshop attracted the participation of 46 local representatives from communities in North West and West Coast Santo, and the Big Bay Area.

The 4-day Workshop was driven by active community participation in setting goals for local conservation and Meeting participant in Tasmate action plans for sustainable development. The shared purpose uniting all of the communities taking part in the Workshop was the desire to introduce nationally recognized Community Conservation Areas throughout the region, managed and maintained by indigenous landowners.

The strategic focus of the Network to support Community Conservation Areas throughout the Santo Mountain Chain will be supported by CEPF, enabling the communities of Wunpuko, Nokoku, Peniel, Tasmate and Elia to undertake the necessary baseline assessments for local biodiversity and consultation on conservation management planning.

Participants in Tasmate

First ever biodiversity survey in Kunua, Bougainville!

After a series of stakeholder engagements and acquisition of formal consent from the chiefs and community leaders in Teua, Kunua District, Junior Novera from the University of (and also from Kunua), led a team of scientists from Australia and Solomon Islands to conduct the first ever biodiversity survey on west coast Bougainville!

The primary aim is to document the poorly known fauna and flora and encourage a long-term goal of backyard conservation in Kunua District. The study site is located within the CEPF priority KBA of Kunua Plains and Mt Waterfalls and forests of Kunua taken by expedition team Balbi, and encompasses a vast area of unbroken forests, occurring from as low as 200m to over 2000 m above sea level. Kunua is truly one of the last frontiers of continuous pristine forest, vegetated waterfalls, crystal clear drinkable streams and fast-flowing rivers, in the Bougainville and Solomon Islands archipelago.

Initial findings suggest that the survey team have discovered and rediscovered unique fauna and flora of the Kunua Plains and Mt Balbi KBA. The survey will contribute immensely to the baseline information of the KBA and allow informed decision-making processes to conserve the area and its rich cultural diversity.

Raákoa'ri CEPF for the continuous support to this project!

Treweek Environmental Consultants begin work in New Ireland

Following on from previous work led by BirdLife International, Treweek Environmental Consultants are now working to improve information on the status and threats of the beck’s petrel, as well as building community awareness and support for the conservation of this elusive bird around New Ireland, PNG.

In October, project lead Jez Bird, along with key partners WCS, and Nezah Lakauas and Bernard Maul from the Obtaining FPIC in Cape St George, New Ireland communities of Mimias and Lenai, led the Free Prior and Informed Consent process. Obtaining FPIC from communities is a key step in project preparation and represents a green light for the project to go ahead. The team reported back on findings from previous field research and put a proposal to them for a joint programme of environmental education and Beck's Petrel field research in 2020.

Follow the team on facebook!

Meeting to share project objectives with WCS in Kavieng

Biodiversity seminar held in Port Moresby

A Biodiversity and Conservation Seminar hosted by Mama Graun Trust Fund and sponsored by Exxon Mobil took place from 27-29 November in Port Moresby.

More than 60 participants from around PNG, including local and national government, researchers, industry partners, and community conservation practitioners came together at the Lamana Hotel to discuss, present and share ideas, research and information.

Junior Novera, from CEPF grantee, University of Queensland, presented research findings from the recent and first ever survey of the Kunua area of Bougainville. Former CEPF grantee The Kainake Project was also in attendance, portraying the message that community conservation efforts should not only be sustainable but built on cultural frameworks and traditional governance systems. TKP is working with a number of partners, including small grantee Rotokas Ecotourism, to form an alliance for conservation and sustainable development with various stakeholders across Bougainville.

OTHER NEWS…

News from our current and former grantees

VESS Ocean Film Festival showcases marine conservation efforts

VESS Radio Australia interview on bats in Fiji and Vanuatu

BirdLife and the race to save the Santa Cruz Ground Dove, a species identified by CEPF as a priority for conservation

Arnavon Community Marine Park wins MPA “Blue Park” Award!

Dughore Mini Cultural and Organic Festival held by Dughore Women Association in collaboration with Gizo Women in Business Development.

Grace Nugi, UQ and formerly WCS: Conserving the dead to protect the living

Other news

Bougainville’s historical referendum on independence

Bougainville island faces copper curse amid independence vote

Prince Charles launches Ocean Policy in Solomon Islands!

Sustainable tourism conference held in Santo, Vanuatu

New plastic bans gazetted in Vanuatu!

RESOURCES

REMINDERS for Grantees

Reporting Progress reports are due quarterly for small grantees and six monthly for large grantees. Financial reports are due quarterly for all grantees.

*Small grant reports for Q4 2019 (financial and progress) are due to IUCN Oceania on January 15th 2020* If you are taking leave over the holiday season, please try to get your reports in before Christmas to avoid delays in reimbursements in January.

*Large grant financial reports for Q4 are due to CEPF on January 30th 2020* *Large grant progress reports for Q3 and Q4 2019 are due to CEPF on January 30th 2020*

Please submit these by the deadline! It is vital that reports are sent to us on time and with sufficient detail regarding the progress against your planned project activities. We cannot disburse any further funds to you until progress and financial reports are submitted on time and approved.

Please check the FAQs for information on the Conservation Grants system for Large Grantees. If you have further queries, please get in touch with CEPF or the RIT.

Travel plans Please ensure that you inform the RIT in advance of your visits to project sites etc. It is very helpful for us to be able to meet with you to discuss progress and any issues with project implementation. We cannot always promise that we will be available, but we will try our best if we have advance notification of your plans.

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About CEPF CEPF is a joint initiative of l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. CEPF funds non- governmental efforts to conserve the world’s most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems. www.cepf.net

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together. Created in 1948, IUCN has evolved into the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its 1,300 Member organisations and the input of some 10,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Our experts are organised into six commissions dedicated to species survival, environmental law, protected areas, social and economic policy, ecosystem management, and education and communication. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/