Value Island Biodiversity It’S Our Life!
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VALUE ISLAND BIODivERSITY It’s Our Life! Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme 1 CONTENTS Introduction Introduction David Sheppard, Director SPREP 3 VALUE ISLAND BIODIVERSITY Campaign Launch Kosi Latu, Deputy Director SPREP 5 It’s Our Life! Pacific getting ready to meet new targets 6 Emerald of the Isles 7 David Sheppard, Director, SPREP Rare giant box crab 7 he Pacific islands region swung into action The hive of activity across the region culmi- Micronesia’s Go Local 9 T with determination to observe 2010 as the nated at the 10th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD International Year of Biodiversity (IYOB). COP10) in Nagoya, Japan. The region’s COP10 Climate Change and Invasive Species 10 communication strategy, The Pacific Voyage, The Biodiversity Bus 11 In 2009 following discussions with participants a flower, was used to convey the over-arch- highlighted the unique biodiversity of the Pa- at the Nature Conservation Roundtable held in ing message that we are all intertwined with cific islands and showcased our PYOB activities Pacific Ocean for your Children 12 Solomon Islands, a draft framework for imple- nature. to the world. The Pacific Voyage also served to menting the International Year of Biodiversity enable the Pacific islands to be heard during The slogan, Value Island Biodiversity – it’s our life, (IYOB) in the Pacific was circulated regionally negotiations and discussions as one voice. And Island Wear Biodiversity and Fashion 13 resounded well with many of SPREP’s Pacific for comment and input. Member countries and we were successful! Issues of importance to island members and was used extensively in territories then endorsed the framework at the the region – invasive species, climate change, Polynesia, Micronesia Challenged 18 correspondence and other publications, and 20th SPREP Meeting held in Apia in 2009 and coastal and marine biodiversity and financing on stickers and posters. We were proud to see © Stuart Chape committed to taking action to observe a Pacif- – were placed firmly on the negotiating table Development and Poverty Alleviation 19 that some of our members chose to develop ic focused IYOB during 2010–2011. In February and included in the final agreement. their own national logos which were used 2010 the Pacific islands region swung into ac- CBD COP10 21 to gain ownership and promote biodiversity This magazine showcases some of the high- tion to celebrate the Pacific Year of Biodiversity conservation across communities. lights of the Pacific Year of Biodiversity and (PYOB). honours the conservation practitioners, scien- Pacific Marine Biodiversity Report 22 The PYOB also sought to highlight links be- A significant aspect of the PYOB was the number tists, donors, government officials, educators, tween aspects of biodiversity conservation and of partnerships formed through goodwill com- journalists and Pacific island communities who Mangroves in the Pacific 22 climate change resilience and adaptation that mitments. Non-governmental organizations, continue to appreciate, respect and value our is- were produced by the Secretariat, building on the SPREP Secretariat, government agencies land biodiversity as an integral part of our lives. 2010 Vision Pasifika Media Award 23 the region’s efforts during the 2009 Year of Cli- and local communities found ways of working mate Change. Several countries also chose to Value Island Biodiversity – It’s together for a common purpose. Making Conservation Fun 24 look at messages of food and nutrition, health our life! The Pacific nature-inspired logo, featuring dif- and well-being in the context of biodiversity Saving a Landmark 25 ferent uses of nature within the outline of conservation. Ocean Voices 26 Pacific Mangrove Initiative 28 SPREP Library/IRC Cataloguing-in-Publication Data he Pacific Biodiversity logo has been developed as part of the Pacific island region’s Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Environmental Ambassadors 28 Value Island Biodiversity: It’s Our Life! – Apia, Samoa : SPREP, 2011. T input to the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity. 36 p. : col. ill. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 978-982-04-0421-2 (print)| Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation 29 The Pacific Biodiversity logo seeks to convey the Organisations and institutions were encouraged 978-982-04-0422-9 (online) 1. Biodiversity – Oceania. 2. Conservation of natural resources – Oceania importance of biodiversity to the health, wealth, to consider using the Pacific logo on their email I. Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) II. Title. Celebrating Pacific Biodiversity 30 cultures and overall well-being of Pacific island correspondence to help promote awareness of 333.95 people. The greens and blues highlight the link biodiversity conservation. Cover photography: Left: © Stuart Chape; Centre and right: © Jenny Basset, UCWA. IYB 2010 in Pictures 32 between our marine and terrestrial ecosystems Design: Joanne Aitken, The Little Design Company During the International Year, the logo was used Compiled by: Clive Hawigen – Intern, 2010 IYB Campaign Coordinator while the overall shape tries to convey the aes- with the logo for the International Year of Biodi- With assistance from SPREP team: Easter Galuvao – Biodiversity Advisor thetic value of biodiversity. The images in each Seema Deo – Education and Social Communication Advisor SPREP’s Work in 2010 34 versity. SPREP encourages countries to continue Nanette Woonton – Media and Public Relations Officer petal highlight the intricate links between hu- using the logo during the Decade of Biodiversi- Posa Skelton – Pacific Invasives Learning Coordinator mans and the environment. © SPREP 2011 ty (2011–2020). The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme authorizes The logo was used widely across the Pacif- the reproduction of this material, whole or in part, provided appropriate The logo is downloadable from the SPREP web- acknowledgment is given. ic during the Year of Biodiversity to help bring site (www.sprep.org) with details on how to add This publication is also available electronically from SPREP’s web site: www.sprep.org biodiversity conservation to the forefront of de- it to your email template. SPREP T: +685 21 929 CONTRIBUTORS velopment planning. PO BOX 240 F: +685 20 231 Apia E: [email protected] A big thank you to those who contributed: Samoa W: www.sprep.org Pacific Biodiversity Blog: http//bionesian.blogspot.com/ • BioNET PACINET • Mari Moertvedt The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the intergovernmental agency charged with the protection and sustainable management • SPREP’s Island Ecosystem Programme • Dr Lois Englberger and the Island Food of the Pacific island region’s environment. SPREP’s vision is for a Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures. • MereTalei Joan Komailevuka and the Fiji Ministry Community of Pohnpei (IFCP) SPREP works at the forefront of regional efforts to address environmental concerns by providing national-level technical advice, programme support, human and of Environment • Randy Thaman institutional capacity building and coordinated regional responses to global issues and international agreements. The SPREP membership comprises 21 Pacific island countries • Easter Galuvao • Jaive Smare and territories and Australia, New Zealand, France and United States of America. The work of SPREP is guided by a 5-year Strategic Plan (2011–2015) which was formally • COP10 Pacific Voyage Media Team: Bernadette • Deyna March and Tauraki Raea adopted at the 21st SPREP Meeting in Papua New Guinea in September 2010. For more information regarding SPREP and SPREP’s contributions to conservation, resource Carreon, Mata’afa Keni Lesa and Nanette Woonton • Rajan Sami management and sustainable development, please visit: www.sprep.org. • Anouk Ride • Maggie Boyle 2 3 Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi Notopteris macdonaldi Pacific Year of Biodiversity LAUNCH Kosi Latu, Deputy Director, SPREP o matter where we live on this planet, occur in the Melanesian islands, New Caledonia N Biodiversity – the variety of life on earth and Polynesia-Micronesia. – remains the foundation of all human life. Our Despite our recognition of the uniqueness of our natural heritage, we in the Pacific have taken our physical, economic, cultural and social well-being biodiversity for granted, allowing many policies is wholly dependent on what nature and natural and practices which contribute to the loss of systems can provide. our biodiversity and deterioration of our natural environments. In the Pacific, as elsewhere on the planet, our Unfortunately, 8 years later, all reports are point- This year, the Year of Biodiversity, is the Pacific’s entire cultures have been determined by our ing to the fact that we may have actually in- opportunity to turn things around. The Year Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi or the Fiji Petrel, locally known as the Kacau ni Gau is and Notopteris macdonaldi or the Fiji Blossom Bat (known locally in Fiji as ikua). It is native to natural environment and the different plant and creased the rate of loss of biodiversity across the island endemic bird of Fiji. It is critically endangered. Kacau ni Gau is a sea bird, presumed to Fiji and Vanuatu, although its population is considered to be vulnerable. It dwells in caves and will focus on encouraging the development nest in burrows on high ridges in the interior of the Gau island and disperse to pelagic