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

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Halo! In this issue, we share with you news from the Regional Implementation Team, updates and stories from CEPF field visits, and highlights from the East Melanesian Islands portfolio.

FROM THE RIT

New Country Coordinator for !

We were sad to farewell Lysa Wini, who has been our Solomon Islands Country Coordinator for the last 2 years. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Lysa for the hard work and great progress that she has made in building the portfolio of grants in Solomon Islands and wish her every success in her next endeavours!

We are excited to welcome Fiona Rodie to our Regional Implementation Team! Fiona brings with her experience from a BSc in Biology and Chemistry and a Graduate Certificate in Education and comes to us from her recent role as a tutor at the University of the South Pacific Solomon Islands campus. She will add value to the RIT's Fiona Rodie © Luisa Tagicakibau presence in Solomon Islands, fulfilling CEPF's programmatic and administrative tasks on the ground, liaising with current and potential grantees and representing the RIT in national meetings and forums.

Please join us in welcoming Fiona as she settles into her role! She can be contacted on [email protected].

Site visit to Choiseul Island

The RIT were thrilled to join Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands (ESSI) in their project sites on Choiseul island. ESSI are recipients of a CEPF grant to undertake a 3 phase project in the Mt Maetambe and Kolobangara River KBA on Choiseul, Solomon Islands. The first phase involved a comprehensive survey of the KBA and was completed in 2014 (final report here).

The second phase has involved working in partnership Kolobangara River Choiseul Island © Luisa with customary landowners of Mount Maetambe to Tagicakibau Kolobangara River Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) to map their customary land. The aim was to strengthen the ownership and tenure rights here, as well as recording the genealogy of each tribe.

The next stage for ESSI is to use this baseline information to set the foundation for future conservation actions such as formal protection of the KBA and the promotion of alternative income sources for local communities.

Meetings with Grantees and applicants in Solomon Islands

Following the latest Call for Proposals for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the RIT took the opportunity to meet with current and future grantees to discuss new project ideas. Meetings were held in Western Province with NRDF (Natural Resources Development Foundation) and ESSI. In Honiara, discussions were held with the Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership and Solomon Islands Rangers Association. Logging near Seghe, © Helen Pippard The RIT also made a visit to Marovo Lagoon in order to meet with members of the Zaira and Biche communities, who are looking for support to protect and manage their lands from the imminent threat of logging. The visit coincided with work being carried out by ESSI and UQ under a grant from American Museum of Natural History. As part of this, the RIT was able to witness first hand some training carried out by Patrick Pikacha of the University of Queensland, using the “Solomon Islands Ranger Skills Guide” produced as part of the CEPF-funded Rangers Training course.

Zaira rangers receive training on the Rangers Skills Guide © Helen Pippard

Meetings with Grantees and applicants in Vanuatu

CEPF’s Executive Director, Olivier Langrand, and Grant Manager for East Melanesian Islands, Michele Zador, joined the RIT in Vanuatu in order to meet current and future grantees in the country.

The team visited some sites that NY Botanical Garden has been working in on Tanna as part of the project, ““Plants CEPF and RIT in Tanna © Michele Zador mo Pipol blong Tafea Provins, Vanuatu” (Plants and

People of Tafea). We visited Nusumetu, Green Hill, which is one of CEPF’s priority KBA sites, and where we were lucky to see the Carpoxylon palm, one of CEPF’s priority species, and listed as CR on the IUCN Red List. The communities we visited are keen to continue the partnership with NYBG and others, in order to move towards protecting and managing their precious resources.

As in Solomon Islands, and following the latest Call for Proposals for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the RIT and CEPF took the opportunity to meet with current and future grantees to discuss new project ideas. Meetings were held in Port Vila with a number of grantees, including Vanuatu Environmental Science Society, Live and Learn, Eco- Lifelihood Development Associates, Vanuatu Environmental Law Association and the Vanuatu Carpoxylon palm, CR, on Tanna Environmental Advocacy Network. © Helen Pippard

Grant Director meets with IUCN Oceania team

Following the meetings in Vanuatu, Michele Zador made a trip to the IUCN Oceania office in , in order to meet with other members of the Regional Implementation Team. Productive meetings were held with staff, and Michele also managed to meet with one of our grantees, BirdLife International, to talk about their work on the Beck’s Petrel and the Tongoa Megapode.

Michele Zador (centre) with IUCN staff Mason Smith and Luisa Tagicakibau © Mason Smith

FROM THE FIELD

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

Grantee Exchange Meeting in PNG

During the second half of 2016, Civil Society Organizations came together in each country of the EMI hotspot to discuss progress made by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) to date.

The PNG exchange took place in October 2016 and

recipients of the fund shared experiences, achievements Participants at Grantee Exchange meeting in Port and lessons learned since the investment began in Moresby © Luisa Tagicakibau 2013. Networking and partnership building were an

important part of the meetings, and participants shared ideas for future proposals in line with CEPF’s priorities as well as national priorities for biodiversity conservation.

CEPF is grateful to WWF PNG for all the help in managing and arranging the logistics for this first of its kind meeting.

Sustainable management of Ngali Nut Trees and Threatened Flying foxes in the Solomon Islands

In January, CEPF grantees Tyrone Lavery of the University of Queensland and Cornelius Qaqara of ESSI, spent a week on for a refresher course in survey and data collection techniques. All five known species of Pteralopex are Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and we know little about their ecology or conservation needs. This training course included surveys on Guadalcanal during which Cornelius was able to see his first monkey-faced bat – the Guadalcanal monkey-faced bat, Pteralopex atrata. These bats are found only in the lowland forests of Guadalcanal and are listed as Endangered. The information collected by Cornelius and Tyrone will contribute towards a recovery plan for monkey-faced bats that is being developed in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management Cornelius Qaqara of ESSI with Pteralopex atrata, © Tyrone Lavery and Meteorology.

Wai Hau Conservation Foundation Look and Learn trip to Marovo

A team of rangers from CEPF-funded Wai Hau Conservation are working towards improving monitoring and management of leatherback turtles in Are’Are on . They travelled to Marovo Lagoon in October in order to learn some practical techniques from Rangers there. The trip was a really important one for the Wai Hau team as they were able to learn from experienced Zaira Rangers on relocation of eggs, hatchery management, and community participation in turtle Wai Hau Rangers with Zaira Rangers learning how monitoring efforts. The team also visited Biche and a leatherback digs its nest © Wai Hau Chubikopi where they learned from local rangers about monitoring of seagrasses and reefs. This was the first look and learn trip of its kind for the Wai Hau Rangers and they are excited about putting their new found knowledge into practice.

Promoting the establishment of protected areas in the Baining Mountains, PNG

The Arabam community in the Baining Mountains benefitted from a recent feasibility study carried out by CELCOR – the Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc.. Arabam is located 20-30km from the capital town Kokopo, in East New Britain Province and is not easy to access. The study aided the people from Arabam to identify their current issues in land and resource management. Pristine environment in the Bainings © CELCOR

The Baining Mountains is a priority key biodiversity area that faces many development threats such as oil palm, mining and logging, selling of customary land to foreigners and clearing of forests for subsistence farming. Population increase in the area has also contributed to added pressure on the natural resources in the Bainings. This study will ensure that the appropriate training needs are identified to provide legal advice, mediation and conflict resolution in land and resource management and review approaches toward the protection and management of the Baining Focus group interview in Arabam © CELCOR Mountains.

Preparing and Implementing a Management Plan for Megapodes on Tongoa, Vanuatu

The Tongoa Megapode is one of CEPF’s priority species. This project is led by BirdLife International through its national partner, the Vanuatu Environment Advocacy Network. The project aims to monitor megapode activities around their burrows, and using data collected, establish a community conservation strategy to maintain and increase megapod populations. There are now 12 cameras in situ all pointing at megapode burrows and monitoring the frequency with Tongoa megapode captured on camera © Mark which birds visit the burrows. O’Brien The local Kurumambe community have agreed to a complete tabu on harvesting of the megapode eggs for the duration of this project, with local community members instead policing the tabu area. The management plan to be produced as an outcome of this project will ensure locally relevant actions for long term monitoring and management of this species.

Endemic and Flagship species workshop, Port Moresby

Monkey faced bats, Giant rats, and the Bougainville moustached kingfisher are just some of the endemic species found only in Bougainville.

A variety of different stakeholders came together at a workshop held in Port Moresby on 2-3 March 2017 to assess the country’s state of knowledge and management of such endemic species. Dr. Jeffrey Noro from The Kainake Project presented work on current studies of the Monkey Faced Bat (Pteralopex flanneryi) and a Giant rat ( salebrosus) both endemic to Bougainville in PNG and Choiseul in the Solomon Islands. Jeffrey Noro from The Kainake Project presenting on endemic rats © Zola Sangga More work needs to be done in improving the current legislation for wildlife protection and efficient monitoring of wildlife trade. Other issues highlighted during the workshop include the lack of capacity in human resources to carry out research not only on data deficient species endemic to PNG but on species and ecology in general. The workshop outcomes will be useful for supporting the implementation of PNG’s NBSAP and contributing towards implementation of the Protected Area Policy.

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS

Live and Learn Vanuatu Scoping the potential for Payments for Ecosystem Services in Vanuatu This short project successfully held scoping consultations on the concept of Payment for Ecosystem Services in Dolav, Gaua, and in 3 sites on Santo - Loru, Vatthe and Kerepua. Discussions were aimed at understanding existing and potential opportunities for tourism investment and development to support specific conservation actions under a PES model – i.e. whereby communities may receive an incentive in exchange for managing and

Loru CCA on Santo © Helen Pippard sustaining healthy intact ecosystems.

A Roundtable workshop for stakeholders was held in Port Vila to discuss future options for PES in Vanuatu, specifically related to eco-tourism. CEPF is looking forward to the next stage of this project, whereby the potential for PES will be piloted through a range of small scale projects in some of CEPF’s priority KBAs.

University of Queensland The Emperor, the King and the Little Pig: Status of the lost rats of Guadalcanal

The largest ever survey for was carried out on Guadalcanal, with the aim of determining the presence of three little known rodents, which are priority species for CEPF. By using camera traps, the main threats to these priority rodents were identified - Feral cats captured on camera in Guadalcanal © namely the presence of feral cats. We share the Tyrone Lavery University of Queensland’s excitement that the presence of at least one of these priority species, most likely Uromys rex – the King rat –was recorded. The area in which evidence of Uromys rex was found is one earmarked for logging. As such, it will be important to confirm the species still present on Guadalcanal and implement actions to conserve it. The project staff worked closely with local communities during this project, and this will be fundamental to future long-term environmental conservation programs focusing on priority species and the priority KBA on Guadalcanal.

French Ichthyological Society Filling Gaps and Improving Knowledge of Freshwater Fauna: A Way Forward for Improving Management of the Solomon and Vanuatu Islands' Rivers.

Under this grant, the French Ichthyological Society studied the freshwater fauna of the Kolobangara Watershed in Choiseul and Island in Western Province, Solomon Islands in partnership with ESSI. The team found one new species of Lentipes kolobangara, new species discovered on Kolombangara Island © C.Lord freshwater crab, 3 new species of shrimp and likely 6 new species of fish. Two of these were subsequently described: Eleotri bosetoi and Lentipes kolobangara. In Vanuatu, studies were carried out in Green Hill, Tanna, and on Aneityum. New occurrence records for fishes and crustaceans were made at both sites. This project therefore made an important contribution to improving our knowledge of freshwater fauna in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

An integral component of the surveys was involving local scientists in the surveys in order to raise their capacity. Ensuring that knowledge was passed to local communities will also empower and enable them to protect their rivers and forests in the future. A major conservation recommendation to come out of this study is to conserve riparian habitats and watersheds – something that will protect not only the species living there, but also the livelihoods of people dependent on these resources.

University of Queensland Field Training for Solomon Islands Protected Area Managers and Rangers

This Training Course was the first of its kind to focus on upskilling rangers, managers and conservation practitioners in the Solomon Islands. Rangers came together from across the country to learn skills for applying analytical and theoretical knowledge to conservation and management in the field. A variety

of institutions were involved in providing lectures and support – for example, Queensland Rangers Association, Solomon Islands Environmental Law Association and Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands to name a few.

A long term relationship was established between the University of Queensland and the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and it is hoped that some of the components from the Rangers Training Course will be incorporated into the SINU curricula in the near future. The project resulted in the publication of a Rangers Manual: ‘Solomon Islands Ranger Skills Guide’, a partner book to the recently published ‘Solomon Islands Forest Life’ book. These resources highlight various skills and methods for conducting different taxa-based surveys, and will be an essential resource for Rangers in Solomon Islands.

See also Solomon Islands Ranger Training video.

PNG Institute for Biological Research Institutional Support for PNGIBR for Effective Organizational Administration and Governance

PNGIBR received a capacity building grant from CEPF to strengthen the institutional, financial and administrative capabilities of the organization. A major component of this project was also to support and train national conservation scientists and resource managers who might then be able to lead in conservation and management efforts in PNG. As a PNGIBR staff networking at the 2016 Grantee result of this CEPF-funded project, PNGIBR has Exchange in Port Moresby © Luisa Tagicakibau subsequently been able to leverage funding from other donors for future project work.

GRANTEES IN THE NEWS

WCS featured in “The National” newspaper in PNG: Turtles on Mussau Island face rough waters

The Kainake Project shares survey results from Bougainville in Air Niugini’s Paradise Magazine (pp 95-96)

Patrick Pikacha, UQ and ESSI, shares a story on frogs in Island Life magazine Frogs: Environmental Indicators

The Kainake Project and WCS also participated in the World Wildlife Day celebrations on 4th March at the Port Moresby Nature Park.

Jeffrey Noro being interviewed by EMTV during the World Wildlife Day at the Nature Park © Zola Sangga

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 Q1 2017 (finance and performance) are due to IUCN Oceania on April 15th 2017*

*Large grant reports for Q1 2017 (finance) are due to CEPF on April 30th 2017*

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.

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 program of l'Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation 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 is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network,

harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organisations and some 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards. IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/