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Day 1 News Bulletin of the 9Th Pacific Islands Conference On NEWS 2 DECEMBER 2013 | BULLETIN NO. 1 FROM THE 9TH PACIFIC ISLANDS CONFERENCE ON NATURE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTED AREAS The 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation Conference and Protected Areas is hosted by the Government of Fiji in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the Pacific Island Roundtable for Nature Conservation and IUCN Oceania. This media coverage is a partnership supported by the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), SPREP, University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji National University (FNU) and the Pacific Island News Association (PINA). Fiji President calls for ‘new culture’ of conservation to conservation and sustainable development and the daily observance of it in all our lives. Do not use our pristine environment as a rubbish dump.” Ratu Epeli reminded the participants of the uniqueness of the Pacific Islands’ common identity and challenged them to make the most of it. The five-yearly regional conservation conference brings together government representatives, NGOs, development partners, international organisations and individual communities from through the Pacific. The President also shared Fiji’s hopes PHOTO: NANETTE WOONTON PHOTO: to see that “grand coalition” broadened Fiji’s President His Excellency, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, in garland, with Attorney-General and and strengthened to include more Acting Environment Minister Hon Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Minister of Works Hon Timoci representatives of the corporate sector. Natuva. “We are convinced that only through an By WATI TALEBULA 2013 there was a need for a revolution in effective public and private partnership as Second year journalism student at FNU personal attitudes. well as a holistic approach to conservation, “For too long, Pacific peoples have can we tackle the complex challenges now iji’s President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau embraced one of the worst facets of before us,” Ratu Epeli said. believes the Pacific needs to bring western consumerism - the culture of the He urged everyone to put away their Fordinary people into its conservation throwaway package,” Ratu Epeli said. differences and work together. efforts to overcome “the culture of the “Our villages, towns and cities are “It is high time for the world to put throwaway package” strewn with litter, our beaches with plastic aside the differences and embrace the Ratu Epeli told delegates gathered bottles and plastic bags, and other non- binding targets to dramatically reduce for the opening of the 9th Pacific Islands biodegradable containers of every kind,” carbon emissions. At the very least, it is the Conference on Nature Conservation and Ratu Epeli said. prudent thing to do.” Protected Areas in Suva on December 2, “We can blame the manufacturers Ms Wati Talebula is a member of the media team for packaging their products in these providing coverage of the 9th Pacific Islands Conference containers in the first place. But the on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas from 2 - 6 December in Suva, Fiji. This is a partnership between responsibility for disposing of them the Fiji National University, University of the South properly is solely our own – all of us. Pacific and SPREP whereby a team of 10 journalism students are mentored by senior reporters as they cover “We need to inculcate a new culture in the conference. This activity is funded by the Pacific the Pacific, one of personal commitment Assistance Media Scheme (PACMAS). PAGE 2 2 DECEMBER 2013 | BULLETIN NO. 1 News from THE 9TH Pacific ISLANDS CONFERENCE ON Nature CONSERVation AND Protected AREAS Dr Flannery tells of ‘critical decade’ By SHAHANI MALA change our children and grandchildren power in Brisbane and Ipswich. Journalism student at FNU experience,” Dr Flannery added. Major bush fires in Australia is also The director of the Australian Climate being attributed in part to climate change. world renowned scientist has told Council shared evidence on how climate “Climate change exacerbates bushfire A a Pacific Island gathering on nature change was having an impact in Australia. conservation in Suva, Fiji that the evidence “The hottest month recorded for conditions by increasing the frequency of of climate change is overwhelming and Australia was on 7 January 2013,” said very hot days,” Dr Flannery sai. clear and that this was the critical decade Dr Flannery during his presentation this He provided evidence that between to take decisive action. morning. 1973 and 2010 the Forest Fire Danger Dr Tim Flannery says we are already The average daily maximum Index increased significantly at 16 of 38 seeing the social, economic and temperature for the whole of Australia environmental impacts of a changing was over 39 degrees Celsius for seven weather stations across Australia, mostly climate. consecutive days from the 2-8 January in the southeast. None of the stations In his presentation to the Pacific Islands 2013, Flannery noted. showed a significant decrease. Conference on Nature Conservation and He said severe heatwaves occurred “Projected increases in hot days across Protected Areas, Dr Flannery said “it is across 70 per cent of Australia in late Australia, and in dry conditions in the beyond reasonable doubt that the burning December 2012 and early January 2013. of fossil fuels is the primary cause”. Dr Flannery made reference to the southwest and southeast, will very likely “Decisions we make from now to 2020 floods in Queensland in December 2010, lead to more days with extreme fire danger will determine the severity of climate where 300,000 homes and businesses lost in those regions,” Dr Flannery said. Fiji takes People at the forefront of nature conservation VISIT US over as ■ www.sprep.org ■ www.facebook.com/SPREP.PEIN chair ■ @SprepChannel ■ www.bionesian.blogspot.com By PRIYA CHAND Second-year journalism student at USP THE FIJI GOVERNMENT HAS EXPRESSED its “absolute commitment” to help tackle the challenges of protecting the environment. Mr Tuinaceva and a colleague Acting Environment Minister at work. and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed- Khaiyum said Fiji accepted its role MY THOUGHTS It has been quite enriching working today as chair of the 9th Pacific Island Personal perspective by Mr Eroni with other budding journalists from USP Conference on Nature Conservation Tuinaceva, a journalism student of the as well as working journalists who have Protected Areas with humility and Fiji National University. all been incredibly helpful and inspiring pride. at the same time. He said it was the government’s oday marked the launch of a week- I look forward to working with obligation first to serve its own people, Tlong effort to continue the uphill everyone over the next few days, growing to empower them through a host of battle against global warming and its in my profession and establishing a policies. associated problems. lifelong network of colleagues and, “That service extends to our The speeches were a particular hopefully, also friends. commitment to work with all of highlight as they reflected the message Lastly, the conference has presented you to tackle and resolve the great that people need to be at the forefront an array of opportunities to broaden one’s environmental challenges we all of nature conservation if natural resource knowledge of all things environment and face as we struggle to protect our are to remain sustainable into the future. will certainly build my capacity to cover surroundings.” On a more personal note, today also environment-related stories with more Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also thanked marked the first time for me to be involved understanding and clarity, particularly Papua New Guinea for its role as the in an inter-tertiary, inter-organisational when dealing with those tricky acronyms conference’s previous chair. media team covering a major event. and environmental jargon. 2 DECEMBER 2013 | BULLETIN NO. 1 PAGE 3 News from THE 9TH Pacific ISLANDS CONFERENCE ON Nature CONSERVation AND Protected AREAS BIGGEST PACIFIC NATURE CONSERVATION GATHERING FROM FACEBOOK VISIT US The 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas is now underway ■ www.sprep.org in Suva, Fiji from 2 - 6 December. Hosted by the Government of Fiji in partnership with the Pacific ■ www.facebook.com/SPREP.PEIN Island Roundtable for Nature Conservation, SPREP and IUCN Oceania. It is held every 4 - 5 years. ■ @SprepChannel Below are photos from the opening day’s events. Photos: SPREP ■ www.bionesian.blogspot.com For more information on the conference please visit: http://www.sprep.org/pacificnatureconference Registration and paying of fees. Cook Islanders at the conference, These two were in high spirits as Joseph Brider, Teina MacKenzie the conference bags lined up to be and Audrey Brown-Pereira. distributed. Over 700 people have registered for the conference. Delegates ready for the first day. Conference packs are handed out. A huge pig and a kava plant were presented to the Fijian President. Conservation International and SPREP gather before the meeting starts. Journalists and photographers out in force. Fijian President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau Fijian soldiers performed the traditional Participants listen intently during the drinks a bowl of kava during the opening. ceremony of welcome. opening ceremony. PAGE 4 2 DECEMBER 2013 | BULLETIN NO. 1 News from THE 9TH Pacific ISLANDS CONFERENCE ON Nature CONSERVation AND Protected AREAS Marine focus vital for action plan: Mr Sheppard By JUSTINE MANNAN Journalism student at FNU new action strategy for conservation A in the Pacific to be developed at the 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in Suva should focus on terrestrial and coastal marine and ocean issues, says the Director-General of SPREP, David Sheppard. In presenting a review of the previous action strategy, Mr Sheppard said a better focus on marine issues was important since the region comprises 30,000 islands with 98 per cent of the area covered in water. “Some species such as the big eyed tuna are increasingly threatened and key species Fijian President His Execellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau speaking during the opening.
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