2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
2016 OCEANIA REGIONAL PRESENTATION ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY SUMMARIES FORUM
Co-sponsored by: | Republic of Fiji Military Forces & U.S. Pacific Command
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Day 1 – Opening Ceremony
Honorable Douglas E. Sonnek, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Honorable Praveen Kumar Bala, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Republic of Fiji ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Day 1 – Sustainable Ocean Resources
"Introduction to Sustainable Ocean Resources Theme," by Mr. Russell Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States of America ………………………………………………………………………. 10
“Environmental Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement in the Oceania Region,” by Mr. Anthony Talouli, Marine Pollution Advisor, South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
"Marae Moana Cook Islands Marine Park: Progress and Challenges," by Mr. Kelvin Passfield, Technical Director, Te Ipukarea Society, Cook Islands ………….…………………………. 16
"Laamu Atoll Environmental Sensitivity Index," by LTC Ahmed Thohir, Principal Director, Administration & Personnel Service (J1), Maldives National Defence Force, Republic of Maldives …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18
Day 2 – Protecting the Coastal Zone
"Introduction to Protecting the Coastal Zone Theme," by Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai, Fiji Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society …………………………………………………………….. 20
"Coastal Marine Spatial Planning," by Ms. Nicole Griffin, Environmental and Energy Manager, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, United States of America …………………………… 23
"Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs): A Home Grown and Globally Recognized Environmental Solution," by Mr. Alifereti Tawake, Council Chair & Technical Advisor, Locally Managed Marine Area International Network, Republic of Fiji ……………………………. 25
"Global Environment Facility Pacific Ridge to Reef Programme," by Mr. Marc Wilson, Global Environment Facility Pacific - Ridge to Reef Regional Programme Coordinator, Geoscience Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Community …………………………………………….. 27
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED)
Day 3 – Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events
"Introduction to Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events Theme," by Commodore Ian Murray, Royal Australian Navy, J1/J4, Director General Support, Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Australia ……………………………………………………… 28
“Tropical Cyclone Winston Response,” by Mr. Luke Koroisave, Chief Economic Planning Officer, Sectoral Regional Division, National Development & Strategic Planning, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Fiji ………………………………………………………………………………… 34
"2011 Tuvalu and Tokelau Drought," by LTCOL Terry McDonald, Director of Strategic Development, Army General Staff, New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand ………………. 36
"American Samoa 2009 Tsunami - Then and Now," by Mr. Iuniasolua T. Savusa, Director, Department of Homeland Security, American Samoa (Delivered by Mr. Justin Pummell, Geographer, Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
Day 4 – Closing Ceremony
Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Milhorn, Commanding General, Pacific Ocean Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, United States of America ………………………………………………… 40
Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, Commander, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Republic of Fiji ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 43
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: Opening Ceremony Statement
Date: 24 May 2016
Time: 0910 - 0915
Theme: Opening Ceremony
Speaker:
Honorable Douglas E. Sonnek, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
Biography:
Douglas E. Sonnek is the Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the United States of America to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.
Since July 2014, Doug Sonnek has functioned as the chief operating officer at the US Embassy Suva, responsible for the day-to-day running of the Mission. Prior to taking up this position, he served as Political/Economic Counsellor at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon, Burma from July 2011 to May 2014, advising policy makers on the full range of political and economic issues affecting U.S.-Burma relations during a period of rapid change in bilateral relations.
In the years prior to his posting in Rangoon, Doug focused on Vietnam – first as the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affair’s Vietnam Desk Economics Officer then as Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City – during which time U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade increased dramatically. Doug’s career with the Department of State also took him to Ljubljana, Slovenia as well as Beijing and Shenyang, China, where he specialized in trade and investment issues.
Before joining the State Department, Doug spent three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer, first in the Central African Republic then on the South Pacific island nation of Niue.
Doug graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
He is accompanied in Fiji by his wife Winnie and their two children.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Statement:
On behalf of Ambassador Judith Cefkin, I would like to welcome Honorable Minister Kumar Bala, Brigadier General Jeff Milhorn, Deputy Assistant Secretary Russell Smith, Commodores, Permanent Secretary, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
Ni sa bula vinaka! Namaste! Salam Aleichem, Good morning! I am delighted to be here to welcome you all to this important forum. First, I would like to say a few words of appreciation to the organizers from the U.S. Pacific Command, in particular the event’s director Christopher Sholes and our gracious Fijian hosts, especially LtCol Jone Tavainavesi who worked so hard to organize this forum.
The Regional Environmental Security Forum was launched in 2010 by the United States Pacific Command to provide an opportunity for militaries in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to collaborate with their civilian counterparts on enhancing environmental security, protection, awareness and management in the region. Since the first forum, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, succeeding forums have taken place in Indonesia, Australia, Maldives, and Thailand. Each forum has chosen different areas of focus.
I am very pleased that this year’s Forum, hosted by the Republic of Fiji Military forces has selected the themes of sustainable ocean resources, coastal zone protection, resiliency to extreme weather events, and regional project collaboration as the areas of focus. I understand that there will also be a workshop on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing.
These issues are at the forefront of our work at the U.S. Embassy in Suva. We understand that the future of the United States and our Pacific partners is inextricably linked to our ability to respond to the challenges posed by climate change and the degradation of ocean resources.
One may ask: why would the military get involved in environmental management - something that has traditionally been a civilian domain?
I believe that President Obama answered this question very well in a speech he delivered to the graduating class of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy almost exactly a year ago.
In this speech, focused on the threat climate change poses for global security, the President said: "Rising seas are already swallowing low-lying lands, from Bangladesh to Pacific islands, forcing people from their homes...Globally, we could see a rise in climate change refugees...Elsewhere, more intense droughts will exacerbate shortages of water and food, increase competition for resources and create the potential for mass migrations and new tensions. All of which is why the Pentagon calls climate change a 'threat multiplier.’”
The President went on to say that one impact of climate change -- extreme drought -- is believed to have played a role in the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria, and the civil war in Syria, so that military services need to factor climate change into plans and operations.
Also, he stated that the increasingly extreme storms being generated by climate change mean that our forces will have to be prepared for more humanitarian missions to deliver lifesaving aid. We have just seen this so clearly in Fiji -- with the devastation wrought by Cyclone Winston -- the strongest cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. And indeed, it fell to the RFMF to mount a large-scale humanitarian relief effort.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the U.S. Government's condolences for the terrible losses Fiji has suffered from Cyclone Winston, as well as our deep admiration for the tremendous skill with which the RFMF and Government of Fiji have responded.
As I said earlier, the issues being tackled by this forum are among the highest priorities for the U.S. Government. President Obama, Secretary Kerry and other U.S. leaders care passionately about the environmental stewardship of our planet.
This is why we worked so intensively with the Pacific and other international partners to achieve a truly historic global climate agreement in Paris last December.
And this is why we are committed to supporting programs to build resilience to the negative impacts of climate change in the Pacific through programs being implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
One such program is the Coastal Community Adaptation Program that supports a variety of projects in vulnerable coastal communities in 9 countries in the Pacific.
We are also supporting efforts to better protect ocean resources. In 2014, Secretary John Kerry hosted the “our Oceans Conference,” in Washington, which assembled policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and philanthropists from nearly 90 countries.
The conference resulted in an Action Plan announcing new initiatives to end overfishing, reduce marine pollution, stem ocean acidification and expand marine protected area.
Our military is also playing a role in these efforts. This includes the U.S. ship-rider program that supports Pacific partners’ efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. And, the U.S. Pacific Command is partnering throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region on water, energy, waste and climate change adaptation projects, helping to protect shorelines from sea-level rise, developing solutions to harvest rainwater, identifying sustainable recycling and reuse practices, modeling groundwater, and harvesting the sun, wind and water for efficient energy use.
The Pacific Command is even working with the U.S. Agency for International Development on a Coastal Community Adaptation project, assisting with the construction of a community center in Kiribati.
We are in a region of lots and lots of islands. We can only be successful in managing the environmental challenges we face, if all countries work together.
That is why this Regional Environmental Security Forum is so important. It fosters a shared approach to environmental management and builds capacity through the sharing of lessons-learned and best practices. It also identifies collaborative opportunities.
I am confident that this forum will help to develop a “network of networks” of experienced civil and military environmental planners in the Oceania region who will continue to work together to identify future projects in the region where the military can lend its support to enhance environmental protection.
I am wishing you much success, and look forward to hearing about your results.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: Opening Ceremony Statement
Date: 24 May 2016
Time: 0915 - 0920
Theme: Opening Ceremony
Speaker:
Honorable Praveen Kumar Bala, Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure, and Transport, Republic of Fiji
Biography:
He was first elected as a Councilor for Ba Town Council in 1983 and then became the ‘Mayor’ of Ba Town Council for twelve (12) years i.e. from 1997 until 2009.
He was appointed by Government to the position of Special Administrator for Lautoka City Council from August 1st, 2010 until August 16, 2014.
In July 2013 – August 16, 2014 he was given the responsibility to be the Special Administrator for Ba & Tavua Town Council.
He served as President of the Fiji Local Government Association from 2004 to 2007 [this is an Association of all the Mayors].
He has been actively involved with Municipal Councils for the past twenty two (22) years until he became the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment.
And now he is also the Minister for Infrastructure & Transport.
Honorable Praveen Kumar Bala is the Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure & Transport.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Statement:
Excellency US Ambassador to Fiji – Mrs. Judith Cefkin Commander, Fiji Military Forces US Pacific Command officials Members of the Fiji Military Forces Civil Society Representatives Officials Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula vinaka and a very morning to you all. Welcome to the sixth Indo-Asia-pacific Regional Environmental Security Forum.
I am very pleased as both Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport to say a few words as the outset about some of the issues we need to work together on. On behalf of the Fijian people and Government, I re-assure our commitment to the good upkeep of our environment. This is well imbedded in our 2013 Constitution.
First and foremost, we would like to acknowledge the support provided by the United States of America through the US Pacific Command and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in facilitating this meeting here in Denarau, Nadi, Fiji.
This is the first time Fiji is hosting this special forum and I strongly believe that this has come at an opportune time not only for Fiji, but whole of the Asia/Pacific region because we share a common security bond and that is to ensure keeping our environment safe and secure.
We often refer to the Environment as Mother Nature because it is the provider for all our needs like clean water, healthy and good food, clean and fresh air to breath and a safe and secure place to enjoy, share and preserve ourselves and more so for future generations.
Concerns for better management of our environment has been raised continuously at the global level and whilst that has been tossed around, we as the trusted stakeholders of Government, civil society organizations, Non-Governmental organizations should work tirelessly to find ways working in collaboration with each other in the areas of disaster risk reduction, building economic resilience and obtaining reliable detailed data and statistics not only to measure the progress of climate adaptation, but importantly in in identifying mitigation factors that can be practiced and measured sustainably.
During this forum, I have been reliably informed that you will be covering four key themes, which include: 1. Protecting the Coastal Zone 2. Sustainable Ocean Resources 3. Resilience to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events and 4. Regional Project Collaboration
The vision as I was informed, for the RESF is to seek and foster discussion to build resiliency to the impacts of climate change and mature environmental security partnerships, diplomacy and awareness in the Asia/Pacific region.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Our region has no doubt experienced changes in weather patterns and is at the forefront of extreme weather events like flooding, drought, and tropical cyclone. We are at a crossroads and let’s all put our heads together I mapping a clear path forward.
Many of the Asia/Pacific regions’ critical biodiversity and man-made infrastructure are continuously threatened by climate change and global warming. Our forest are being indiscriminately logged or reclaimed. Our reefs, lagoon, streams and coastal areas are eroding, clogged with sediments, polluted and dying. Invasive species and diseases are spreading out of control.
On a positive note, there is much to celebrate. There is clearly increasing realization that we must change the way we operate to avert a disaster, worse than any natural or economic disaster, a disaster that would make future life for all unsustainable. Whilst we celebrate our recent achievements, we must also not lose track of the work that still needs to be done.
You need no reminder, as you may have read it over the media on Fiji’s experience on the recent category 5 cyclone that caused immense damage and havoc to our lives, infrastructure and biodiversity in February of this year. And after four months, we are still recovering and the recovery process may take longer than anticipated. Many useful lessons have been learned, and we are optimistic that we would not be caught off-guard the next time around a similar event strikes.
Within the Asia/Pacific region, we are also experiencing noticeable change in weather pattern, the rise in sea level and depletion of natural resources that past generations once found in abundance. So, it looks like that this natural environmental threat will be the norm, weather patterns that we will be experiencing in the future, and the question we must ourselves is, “how can we effectively address these natural challenges.”
As the local Minister responsible for the Environment, it is my hope and desire that the four day program will be an eye-opener and set the platform in addressing the mind-boggling threats to our environment and the much needed security that goes with it. We hope that at the end of the four days program, all will be able to capture and reinforce the US Pacific Command definition of environmental security, which is, “the abundance or scarcity of environmental resources and/or environmental degradation that can critically impact security.” That in itself is a balance and all- encompassing definition that captures both sides of the environmental security coin.
This is an opportune time to discuss issues of environmental security facing the region, and seek ways in which militaries can effectively support civilian authorities effectively mitigate impacts. It is only by working together in a very methodical and focused manner are we going to be able to meet these challenges.
We need a holistic approach to resolving the issues, so once again, I urge you all to seize the moment and make good use of this opportunity to interact with specialists who will be presenting during the four day program.
Whilst here in Fiji, I urge you all to get to know Fiji more, interact with the local representatives who are joining you here, and get to know more of the experiences Fiji is going through in relation to addressing environmental security challenges.
Ladies and gentlemen, with these few words I wish all of the participants from the different participating countries well, and now I have great honor in declaring the sixth Indo-Asia-Pacific Regional Environmental Security Forum open.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: Introduction to Sustainable Ocean Resources Theme
Date: 24 May 2016
Time: 0950 - 1000
Theme: Sustainable Ocean Resources
Speaker:
Mr. Russell Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States of America
Biography:
Russell F. Smith III is deputy assistant secretary for international fisheries at NOAA and is responsible for overseeing NOAA's work with other countries to ensure that fish stocks are sustainably managed. He serves as the U.S. federal commissioner for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and the International Whaling Commission. He also oversees NOAA's efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing.
Smith came to NOAA from the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) where he was the director for International Environmental Policy and Multilateral Environmental Agreements since 2006. He joined USTR in 2002 as a deputy director in the Office of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Prior to that, he had many years of experience at the U.S. Department of Justice and in private practice.
He holds a Juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale. Smith is married to Teresa Ferrante and has two daughters and five granddaughters.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Statement:
Good morning everyone and thanks to the Republic of Fiji Military Command and the United States Pacific Command for the invitation to participate in these important discussions. As was mentioned, I work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Our agency motto is “science, service and stewardship”. We use earth observations to help us understand our environment and the impacts of interactions between humans and the environment.
Today’s theme is “Sustainable Ocean Resources.” Ocean resources are very important globally, even to those that don’t live in coastal states. They are particularly important to this region where they make significant contributions to employment, food security, and economic development. We know from experience, from observation, that our actions can have a negative impact on ocean resources: pollution can kill life in portions of the ocean decimating the resources depended upon for livelihood. Overfishing and illegal fishing can have the same effect.
Depletion of resources can also cause increased competition for those resources. This increased competition has, at time resulted in conflicts between individuals, or even conflicts between states that threaten domestic, regional and even global security.
In talking about promoting the sustainability of a living resource we are basically talking about ensuring that the resource has the capacity to endure and remain productive forever. We want to make sure that our actions don't prevent future generations from having the same access to these natural resources that we did.
To survive, humans will need to continue to exploit the various resources available to us, including our ocean resources. But we also need to be smarter about how we do that. Part of that will be through efforts to get a better understanding of how to sustainably utilize the resources that are available; about how we ensure that we use our resources in a fashion that allows them to continue to regenerate; to produce the resources on which we depend and upon which future generations will need to continue to depend.
Forty years ago, U.S. fisheries were in serious trouble. They were poorly managed and depleted and it was reasonable to ask whether they would be available to benefit future generations. Luckily, two influential members of the U.S. Congress got together and penned what has become our organic law for fisheries management.
First, it required that we collect the data and conduct the scientific analysis necessary to understand the impact that we were having on our fisheries. It also required that we put in place management measures for our fisheries that would stop practices that were undermining their continued viability.
Among other things we had to stop overfishing and reduce fishing pressure in particular fisheries to levels that would allow those fisheries to rebuild to sustainable levels. Forty years later we have seen very dramatic improvements in almost all of our fisheries as a result. We have largely ended overfishing and, as a result, rebuilt a number of stocks to levels where they can be fished sustainably. There is more to be done.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Of course, the United States has not been alone in this effort. Other countries have also begun to use the best available science to manage their fisheries and a number of regional fisheries management organizations have brought nations with interests in shared stocks together to do the same. The United States is committed to working to advance these efforts with other nations individually, and in various RFMOs.
However, the best management measures in the world are worthless if they aren’t complied with. Although there are some questions about the level of illegal fishing globally, it is clear that it is a significant problem to the tune of billions of dollars a year. One important new tool for addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is the Port State Measures Agreement that will enter into force early next month.
By requiring inspection of some portion of the fish being landed by foreign vessels and by requiring that information be shared about vessels that are engaged in or supporting IUU fishing, this Agreement will make it harder for IUU fish to find its way to market. In many of our nations, successful implementation of port sate measures will require cooperation between civilian and military officials. And for those nations out there that haven’t yet ratified the Port State Measures Agreement, we hope that you soon will.
Another important effort that promises to further reduce IUU fishing is the effort by nations individual and collectively to improve maritime domain awareness. Improved maritime domain awareness can help nations focus limited resources to investigate suspicious behavior and disrupt various types of illegal activity including illegal fishing piracy and the smuggling of drugs, arms and human beings. This is another area where cooperation between civilian and military officials is important.
Military assets are often important for identifying, and at times responding to, suspicious activities. And as these illegal activities threaten national security, this type of mission can be squarely within their mandate.
The United States has been a strong partner with Pacific Island Countries in our shared effort to achieve the sustainable management of Pacific fisheries resources and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
One example is the Nighttime Boat Detection Service that takes information from NOAA’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (or VIIRS), processes it to detect fishing vessels and provides alerts to authorities when fishing vessels are detected in areas where they would not be expected such as no-take marine protected areas, restricted coastal buffer zones and areas that have been closed to fishing for management purposes.
The system is currently operational in Indonesia and the Philippines and will be deployed in Vietnam shortly. I believe that Chris Elvidge, the principle architect of the system is here, and he would be happy to talk more about it.
There are other cooperative tools that can be used to help improve marine domain awareness and combat IUU fishing. For example, the U.S. “shiprider” agreements with nine Pacific Island Countries,
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which were mentioned by the DCM, provide a critical mechanism for cooperation on the reduction of IUU fishing and the enhancement of maritime law enforcement. In addition, the U.S. navy makes some of its ships transiting this region available as platforms from which law enforcement officials can conduct boarding and inspections of fishing vessels.
There are other steps that our militaries can take to contribute to the sustainable management of resources that are important both regionally and globally. Increased ocean acidification caused by the combustion of fossil fuels threatens shellfish and, potentially, finfish harvests, including in this region. In addition, sea level rise resulting from global warming, threatens the existence of some pacific small island developing states as well as other coast communities.
The Great Green Fleet (GGF) is a year-long, U.S. Department of the Navy initiative that demonstrates the sea service’s efforts to make its energy use more sustainable. The centerpiece of this effort is the use of alternative fuels, including a blend of advanced biofuel made from beef fat and traditional petroleum in escort ships. These biofuels have been procured by the Navy at prices that are on par with conventional fuels, as required by law, and are certified as “drop-in” replacements that require no engine modifications or changes to operational procedures. The Great Green Fleet also uses energy efficient technologies and operating procedures referred to as Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) during the course of its normal operations.
These beautiful images on the screen were taken by NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer and are there to remind that we still have much to learn, much to explore, especially with respect to our oceans. For example, I understand that that species of octopus was unknown before these pictures were seen.
Today we will cover a number of topics related to this journey to sustainability. Our first speaker will talk about marine pollution surveillance.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: Environmental Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement in the Oceania Region
Date: 24 May 2016
Time: 1000 - 1030
Theme: Sustainable Ocean Resources
Speaker:
Mr. Anthony Talouli, Marine Pollution Advisor, South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme
Biography:
Anthony Talouli is currently employed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) as the Pollution Adviser. His role involves strategy, project coordination, implementation, and management (particularly with respect to the management of terrestrial and marine pollution) as part of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Division at SPREP. Part of this role is managing the marine environment protection aspect of the International Maritime Organization Technical Cooperation Programme in the region that addresses ship-sourced pollution, including oil, hazardous chemicals, marine debris and plastics. In the region, this work is under the Noumea Convention and its protocols, as well as the Integrated Waste and Pollution Management 2016-2025 (Cleaner Pacific 2025) and the Pacific Oceans Pollution Prevention Programme (PACPOL) Strategy 2015-2020. On a day to day basis, the role involves providing technical advice, support and assistance to member countries particularly with regards to funding and resourcing.
Anthony has an engineering background. He has been at SPREP for the last 9-yrs and previous to that, 10 years in the oil industry with Shell Company.
Abstract:
In a region with 98% covered by ocean, the health of the marine environment is fundamental to the health of all aspects of the entire Pacific islands region. Compliance, monitoring and enforcement are essential to maintaining the health of this environment. However, for the 2% that is covered by land, the region finds it difficult to provide adequate compliance, monitoring and enforcement surveillance let alone for the 98% covered by ocean.
There are number of environmental issues that are of critical importance requiring compliance with international, regional and national laws.
Marine Pollution Issues
Marine pollution is one of the four major threats to the world’s oceans, along with climate change, habitat destruction and over-exploitation of marine resources. Ship-sourced marine pollution such as oil spills, waste and garbage particularly plastics and abandoned, lost discarded fishing gear, wrecks, marine invasive, anti-fouling systems used on ship hulls is of particular concern to our region. All these issues are intergenerational and multi-sectorial global environmental problem with lasting detrimental impacts upon ocean and coastal ecosystems, cultures and livelihoods.
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Highlighting the importance of increasing global ratification and improving implementation of international standards for vessels is key to moving towards having an international mandatory safety regime for all vessels, particularly including fishing vessels.
Impacts of Marine Debris on Protected Species
The deliberate discharge of non-degradable materials, especially fishing gear and plastics, from vessels is a well-studied threat to protected species, including whales, turtles and seabirds; but little effort is made to ensure compliance with the provisions of MARPOL through awareness-raising or onboard inspections of fishing vessels.
Routine boarding of fishing vessels to inspect storage facilities for potentially hazardous materials and providing awareness-raising materials could promote better compliance with the provisions of international law.
Transport to Remote Locations for Protected Species (PS) Monitoring
A major impediment to the effective monitoring of the populations of protected species such as turtles is the cost of transport to remote breeding locations. The use of military vessels on an opportunistic basis to deliver personnel to remote locations, and the use of aerial surveillance, particularly drones, could significantly improve the state of knowledge of protected species populations in the Pacific Islands region.
Ocean observation, Monitoring and Drivers of Climate
The Pacific Ocean is the major driver of global climate, as evidenced by the current El Nino. The Pacific islands region is highly dependent on global ocean observing efforts such as Argo, the Tropical Pacific Observing System, the Surface Drifter Program, and the Pacific Sea Level Monitoring Program for the monitoring of their oceans. The Tropical Pacific Observing System is also crucial for monitoring and predicting ENSO conditions, and also provides valuable oceanographic and climatology data.
There is little capacity (financial and technical) in the region to conduct basic observations in either coastal or pelagic waters. For example, there is only one wave buoy between Hawaii and Australia/NZ, which is in American Samoa (supported by US NOAA), and the only other wave buoy in the Pacific islands is in Marshall Islands (also supported by NOAA).
Improved monitoring and predictions of marine weather, especially in relation to safety at sea for small-scale fishermen and coastal inundation forecasting are priority areas for action in the region. Assistance in data collection (especially through a ship of opportunity type program), instrument deployment, and capacity building would help remedy this.
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Presentation Title: Marae Moana Cook Islands Marine Park: Progress and Challenges
Date: 24 May 2016
Time: 1030 - 1100
Theme: Sustainable Ocean Resources
Speakers:
Mr. Kelvin Passfield, Technical Director, Te Ipukarea Society, Cook Islands
Biography:
Kelvin’s interest in marine ecosystems extends back more than 25 years, to when he was a commercial fisherman in northern Australia. Since then, he has formalized this interest with a degree in fisheries from the Australian Maritime College, and post graduate diploma in marine studies and a master’s degree in Marine Affairs from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. Kelvin has lived for extended periods in a number of Pacific Island and Asian Countries, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu, Maldives and Thailand where he has worked on projects related to marine ecosystems, in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans. His career has included positions with national governments and NGOs, as well as international organizations such as UNEP, UNDP, FAO, and IUCN. His work experience includes:
• Management of fisheries, fishery habitats, and integrated coastal zones; • Technical aspects of inshore and offshore fisheries including capture, post-harvest processing, pearl oyster mariculture; • Fisheries livelihoods development and rehabilitation post disaster; • Utilization of household, creel, and other surveys to determine the reliance of communities on marine resources, and estimate their economic value; • Resource surveys, particularly for inshore species including trochus, giant clams, sea cucumbers and pearl oysters • Seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems, and their linkages with terrestrial ecosystems • Community based management of inshore fisheries, including multi-stakeholder participation, and assisting communities prepare management plans for “managed fishery areas”
Kelvin has developed a strong interest in the sustainable use of natural resources to support livelihoods of coastal communities, in particular those from the small island developing states. He currently lives in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, where he is the Technical Director of the Cook Islands national environmental NGO, Te Ipukarea Society, which is the Birdlife International Partner for the Cook Islands, as well as a member of IUCN, and the GEF CSO Network.
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Abstract:
The Cook Islands Marine Park, now known as Marae Moana, was declared by the Prime Minister Henry Puna in August 2012 at the Pacific Island Leaders’ Forum held in Rarotonga. Originally encompassing only the portion of the EEZ below 15 degrees south, and following extensive nationwide consultations, the area has now been extended to cover the whole of the Cook Islands EEZ. Since the original declaration, progress has been slow to turn that into a legally designated marine park.
The main reason for the slow progress has been trying to accommodate principles 1 and 2 into the way the marine park will be managed. These principles are:
1. Protection, Conservation and Restoration 2. Sustainable Use to Maximize Benefits
The presenter will elaborate on progress in general on operationalizing the marine park, and also on the efforts to reconcile these 2 principles with the various stakeholders.
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Presentation Title: Laamu Atoll Environmental Sensitivity Index
Date: 24 May 2016
Time: 1115 - 1145
Theme: Sustainable Ocean Resources
Speaker:
LTC Ahmed Thohir, Principal Director, Administration & Personnel Service (J1), Maldives National Defence Force, Republic of Maldives
Biography:
Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Thohir was born on 21st November 1971 in S. Hithadhoo, the capital of Addu City which happens to be the southernmost atoll of Maldives. Lieutenant Colonel Thohir completed his secondary education at English Preparatory and Secondary School, Male, Maldives. After schooling Lieutenant Colonel Thohir was called by the Maldives National Defence Force for the compulsory national service then. He joined Maldives National Defence Force as a Private on 4thFebruary 1992.
In 1997 Lieutenant Colonel Thohir completed a Diploma in Computer Studies in India and started his first degree at University of Canberra, Australia in 1998. He graduated in 2000 with Bachelor of Information Technology. Lieutenant Colonel Thohir completed Master of Business Administration with Specialization in Information System at University of Southern Queensland, Australia in 2008. He also holds a Master’s degree in Defence Strategic Management from Kothalawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
In his military career, Lieutenant Colonel Thohir has completed a number of training abroad which includes Young Officer Signal Course from Military College of Signals, Pakistan, Instructional Techniques Officers Course from Malaysia, and Communication Training in Establishing Early Warning System in South Korea and Defence Services Command and Staff Course from Sri Lanka. During the past 22 years of service Lieutenant Colonel Thohir has held many command and staff appointments. He is currently the Principle Director of Administration and Personal Service, (J1) at Integrated Headquarters of Maldives National Defence Force. Prior to that he was the Director of Service Corps. He also held the post of Commanding Officer of Research and Development Wing of Maldives National Defence Force. Command appointments that Lieutenant Colonel Thohir held in the past include, Officer In-Charge of IT Department, Deputy Officer Commanding of Communication Electronics and Information Technology Service, Officer Commanding of Communication Electronics and Information Technology Service and Deputy Director, Strategic Communication Department of Ministry of Defence.
Lieutenant Colonel Thohir is married to Mrs. Aminath Shifza and is blessed with a daughter and a son.
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Abstract:
The island nation of Maldives is an archipelago comprising 1,190 low-lying coral islands scattered across the equator, in groups of 26 naturally occurring atolls which are divided into 20 administrative regions. The One and a Half Degree Channel is the broad channel that separates Haddhunmathi Atoll (Laamu Atoll) and Huvadhu Atoll, and it is one of the broadest channels between the atolls of Maldives. It is also one of the best fishing locations in the regions of Asia/Pacific. However, there is no emergency plan in place which can be used to prioritize the environmental response areas susceptible to oiling. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps have been an integral component of oil-spill contingency planning and response since 1979. With the aid of United States Government, an agreement was signed between the United States Army Corps of Engineers and Maldives National Defence Force to study Laamu Atoll Environmental Sensitivity Index. The project was conducted in three phases, which included research on the atolls that are on north and south of the One and Half Degree Channel. The research was mainly focused in developing an ESI map atlas of Laamu Atoll that would represent details of shoreline characteristics, coastal resources, biological resources, sensitive shorelines, and human use resources that are susceptible to the impacts of oiling. By the end of the project, a total of 44 islands were visited by the team and thousands of resources were collected during the process. The final product consists of Both Digital and Hardcopy Map Atlas (containing field photos, species list), ESI GIS Database and GPS Data Dictionary that is vital for first responders to prioritize disaster management efforts, clean-up requirements, and biological/human/coastal vulnerabilities and to prepare the Maldives Government with an environmental strategy to respond to an oil spill impacting the Laamu Atoll.
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Presentation Title: Introduction to Protecting the Coastal Zone Theme
Date: 25 May 2016
Time: 0905 - 0915
Theme: Protecting the Coastal Zone
Speaker:
Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai, Fiji Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society
Biography:
Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai joined WCS-Fiji in January 2014 as the Deputy Director, and was promoted in December to the Director’s position. She has worked on marine science and conservation in Australia, East Africa, Indonesia and the South Pacific. She completed her Ph.D. in 2007 through Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia, looking at reproduction and recruitment of corals in Kenya. Since then she has been working on designing marine protected areas, marine spatial planning, community fisheries, environmental policy, and climate change. She is a specialist in designing monitoring programs to understand impacts of disturbances on coral reef communities, and the return of investment of conservation strategies. She is currently an editor for the journal Pacific Conservation Biology, an adjunct scientist for New England Aquarium, and co-chair for Ecosystem Services Partnerships for Oceania.
Statement:
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka and a warm welcome to everyone, especially those of you that have come from outside of Fiji. As a fellow coastal dweller and an ocean lover, it is my great honor to be able to open Day 2 of this Forum, which is focusing on Protecting the Coastal Zone.
Human beings, all over the world are drawn to coastal regions and nowhere is this clearer than in the island nations that make up Oceania.
Does anyone know what percentage of the world’s population lives on the coast?
A UN Atlas produced in 2010 noted that 44 percent of the world’s population lives within 150 kilometers of the sea.
Generally when we talk about coastal areas we usual mean up to 100m inland from the water, though this is just a guiding number, and should be modified and tailored to your individual countries depending on, for example, the elevation of your land and what you want to manage for.
Because human beings have a preference for coastal areas, we are changing and reshaping our coastlines (sometimes irreversibly) with each passing generation. Our coasts have habitats that are economically and ecologically valuable, but face intensified pressure from human activities. Among these pressures include destroying key habitats as we convert land for agriculture and human habitation, deforestation which increases erosion and sedimentation to downstream areas, increase in pollutant loads, and even the introduction of invasive species.
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And if this is not enough pressure, we also have climate change which is causing additional stresses to coastal ecosystems, such as increasing floods and storm damage, and more catastrophic events like Category 5 Cyclone Winston that caused extensive and wide scale damage to Fiji.
Any single one of these pressures will affect our coastal area. So imagine when there are multiple pressures on our coastal ecosystems. These combined stresses or pressures can lead to loss of biodiversity, decrease in the productivity of our fisheries, new diseases among organisms, harmful algal blooms, reduced water quality, and a threat to human health through toxins in fish and shellfish and pathogens such as cholera and hepatitis A residing in polluted water. This raises the question of whether – or to what extent – our coastal areas will retain their ecological and economic value in the decades and centuries to come.
So why should we care and what are we doing about this? Let’s tackle the first question – why should we care?
Well, biodiversity and ecosystem services provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits including food, clean water, genetic resources, flood protection, nutrient cycling and climate regulation.
Without concerted action on biodiversity loss, current and future benefits that could be vital to us as islanders, are in jeopardy. For example, while only covering 0.2% of the world’s oceans, coral reefs contain 25% of marine species. It is estimated that these reefs produce net benefits of USD29.8 billion per year from the ecosystem services they provide.
The costs to society of not taking action are in many cases much higher than the resource needs. Biodiversity investment acts like an insurance against uncertain future environmental change that reduces future costs and preserves opportunities for current and future generations. So what are we doing about this?
Well in Fiji, key government departments like the Department of Environment, NGO and academic partners are encouraging coastal management with an emphasis on habitat protection through land- use planning, habitat restoration, and regulating development impacts to coastal habitats.
In Fiji, we are working in the provinces of Ra, Bua and Kadavu to design integrated coastal management plans to manage land-based impacts on coastal systems. Our policies specifically state that integrated coastal management aims to:
i. maintain ecological processes and services ii. preserve, enhance and rehabilitate natural resources iii. improve health and wellbeing of the people in Fiji
In developing these integrated management plans we have had to rethink what we mean by our coastal zone, which was originally defined as only 50m inland. This does not make sense, especially in island countries. So we have a working definition which takes a more ridge to reef approach, meaning we manage from the mountain to the reefs.
Fiji is proud that is it taking a holistic ecosystem-based management approach – meaning, that we are thinking about managing at a large enough scale to take into account the ecological processes, and the connection between different habitats. For example, if you take an ecosystem-based
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management approach, you will think about how actions on land will affect rivers, and how in turn this affects our oceans.
And we are using bottom up processes to do this – meaning, we are sitting down with local communities, understanding the importance of their natural resources, and then developing district and/or provincial management plans. We are encouraging local stewardship and wise decision making.
We are also thinking about how to include climate change and natural disasters into coastal planning and management. How do we make sure communities and the ecosystems they rely on, are resilient to these stresses. For example, sea level rise inundation models can be produced to support the development of climate change adaptation plans, regulations, and policies at all levels of government. We want to ensure our ecosystems are strong and healthy, so they can quickly rebound from climate change and natural disasters.
So how is this all relevant to you?
I believe the primary purpose of this forum is to increase regional militaries' understanding of environmental issues, to encourage stewardship obligations, and coordinate efforts with civilian agencies and NGO's for whole-of-government and whole-of-society solutions.
As a conservation practitioner, this gives me hope because if we are to find solutions for our coastal areas, we need our military forces. One of the biggest challenges we have for example in coastal areas is the enforcement of our laws.
I think there are opportunities for enforcement agencies to work in partnership together to for example address environmental crimes, which are often poorly understood or given a lesser priority compared to other crimes. In other countries, I have seen MOUs being signed between the army, police and for example fisheries agencies, to jointly combat coastal crimes.
I hope during the forum, there is time and space to be able to discuss this in more detail, and to develop stronger partnerships between our military forces and the agencies and organizations working on coastal issues not only in Fiji, but the wider Pacific.
Thank you.
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Presentation Title: Coastal Marine Spatial Planning
Date: 25 May 2016
Time: 0915 - 0945
Theme: Protecting the Coastal Zone
Speaker:
Ms. Nicole Griffin, Environmental and Energy Manager, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, United States of America
Biography:
Ms. Griffin attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Geological Sciences from UIC in 1991. Ms. Griffin was then employed as contaminant hydrogeologist for a year in Chicago, Illinois, before relocating back to Honolulu, Hawaii. The early part of her career was spent on developing her expertise in island hydrogeology (assessment and remediation of basal and perched aquifers and related human health and ecological risk assessment of watersheds/related surface water bodies). She also completed environmental compliance and due diligence projects under numerous environmental protection laws. Later, Ms. Griffin advanced her capabilities in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessments (EAs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for terrestrial, nearshore and pelagic environments, with multiple and competing uses. After being promoted to senior management in consulting, Ms. Griffin expanded her environmental management capabilities working for the Environmental Compliance Branch of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). She was charged with ensuring that the bases in PACAF were able to meet their legal and host nation agreement environmental responsibilities in a constrained financial environment. In 2010, Ms. Griffin became the Environmental and Energy Manager for Marine Forces of the Pacific (MARFOPAC). For the first two years, Ms. Griffin had programmatic and financial responsibilities for the environmental and energy/utilities programs of MARFORPACs 11 bases. After the stand-up of the Marine Corps Installation Command (MCICOM) in 2012, Ms. Griffin transitioned her installation responsibilities to MCICOM, and continues to work on improving environmental compliance and energy conservation for the Marine Forces. Since 2010, Ms. Griffin has also been the Department of Defense representative on the Pacific Islands Regional Planning Board. This board is charged with advancing the U.S. National Ocean Policy at the Regional level by implementing Coastal Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP).
Abstract:
The United States Marine Corps and Navy are participating in regional ocean planning efforts with other Federal and State agencies in the Pacific. U.S. Marine Forces of the Pacific has provided a Department of Defense (DoD) representative on the Pacific Islands Regional Planning Board (PIRPB). This board is charged with completing Coastal Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) to further the National Ocean Policy (NOP) as directed by Executive Order 13547. There are several goals in the NOP - ecosystem based management, coastal resiliency/climate change, economic growth, access, security, cultural/heritage preservation, increased inter-agency coordination and reducing conflicting uses. Regions define regional goals, determine objectives which define the way the goals
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are met and measured then create a Coastal Marine Spatial Plan. Key points to making it work are inter-agency cooperation and stakeholder (public, non-government organization, etc.) participation. Because it is an unfunded mandate, we have had to find ways to provide services "in-kind" and make things work. American Samoa is our first sub-region in the Pacific to start and will develop the prototype plan for the region. DoD has equities in this planning, assuring access and security for their training as well as others. This is a success story in working together and legally combining limited resources to try to improve and protect our ocean.
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Presentation Title: Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs): A Home Grown and Globally Recognized Environmental Solution
Date: 25 May 2016
Time: 0945 - 1015
Theme: Protecting the Coastal Zone
Speaker:
Mr. Alifereti Tawake, Council Chair & Technical Advisor, Locally Managed Marine Area International Network, Republic of Fiji
Biography:
Alifereti Tawake, a community advocate and a resource management specialist, grew up on Kadavu Island (Fiji). He has worked on natural resource, fisheries, climate change, conservation, sustainable development and management issues for over two decades as coastal communities were increasingly facing challenges in meeting their food and income in the face of resource decline and few alternative livelihoods. His tireless support of communities in Fiji and globally to better manage the land and sea was recognized in 2015 as the first Fijian and Pacific Islander to receive the WWF’s Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal. Mr. Tawake is one of the founder and the current Chair of the Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) Network, a growing network of community practitioners and leaders globally who have demonstrated over decades that the most effective way to conserve the world’s natural resources is by empowering communities.
His pioneering work starting with Verata district have spread to more than 450 communities that make of Fiji LMMA Network today also won him the international Whitley Foundation (UK) Award for People and the Environment in 2004. LMMA Network today also exists in the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, Palau, and the Solomon Islands and with more island nations considering launching similar networks. The LMMA movement in turn has sparked interest globally, with requests for support from Southeast East Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Alifereti is also a Technical Advisor to these country networks, the IUCN Oceania as a member of the IUCN-WCPA and is completing his PhD in Environmental Science at James Cook University.
Abstract:
Coastal communities worldwide are facing challenges to food security and are vulnerable to disasters and climate change impacts. Local marine management undertaken by communities has often achieved benefits that may have eluded top-down MPAs. In Fiji, locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) have proliferated and a growing network of communities, managers and practitioners strengthened since 2000. Today, more than 450 coastal communities are collectively managing about 79% of Fiji's inshore marine areas and experiencing an improvement in marine catches and household incomes. This homegrown solution and approaches are built on a unique feature of the region - customary tenure and resource access - and often making use of traditional knowledge and governance. LMMAs in the Asia-Pacific are implemented by over 600 communities spanning 17 independent countries and territories, with more than 130,000 sq.km representing a unique global achievement. LMMAs also exists in Africa and other regions around the world. The spread and
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endurance of LMMAs is attributable to communities' perceptions that benefits are very likely to be achieved.
The main innovation that has supported the proliferation of LMMAs is the operation of clusters of communities supported by regional, national and sub-national umbrellas or social networks. In essence, LMMAs serve as building blocks for building resilience, climate change adaptations, integrated island management and sustainable development by communities. For significant environmental or fisheries benefits to be realized, communities need to take a more holistic approach beyond just MPAs.
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Presentation Title: Global Environment Facility Ridge to Reef Programme
Date: 25 May 2016
Time: 1045 - 1115
Theme: Protecting the Coastal Zone
Speaker:
Mr. Marc Wilson, Global Environment Facility Pacific - Ridge to Reef Regional Programme Coordinator, Geoscience Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Biography:
Marc Wilson joined SOPAC as the Regional Program Manager for the GEF-IWRM program in January 2009. He holds an MSc and has worked as a natural resource researcher, manager and development aid consultant in over 30 countries in many regions of the world. He has lived and worked for extended periods in both Melanesia and Polynesia. He has worked as a CEO in both the public and private sectors and has extensive consulting experience with national, regional and international organizations. He established and was the foundation Director of the Australian Maritime College’s Graduate School of Marine Resource Management and has published widely in natural resource development and management. He has a particular interest in integrated management of natural resources and the challenges of institutionalizing real stakeholder participation in decision making and in developing non-government stakeholder participation capacity. In 2002 – 2007, he was the Australian Team Leader for the AusAID funded Tonga Integrated Fisheries Management Project and prior to joining SOPAC he worked as a strategic planning adviser for RAMSI in the Solomon Islands.
Abstract:
Mr. Wilson presented on SPC’s ridge to reef program. He started his presentation by providing background on the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Mr. Wilson explained that the ridge to reef program combines integrated water resource management, integrated coastal management, eco-system based management, and ecosystem based adaptation into one effort. Overall, the ridge to reef program maintains and enhances Pacific Island countries’ ecosystem goods and services through integrated approaches to land, water, forest, biodiversity and coastal resource management that contribute to poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience.
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Presentation Title: Introduction to Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events Theme
Date: 26 May 2016
Time: 0905 - 0915
Theme: Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events
Speaker:
Commodore Ian Murray, Royal Australian Navy, J1/J4, Director General Support, Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Australia
Biography:
CDRE Ian Murray was born in Sydney in 1967. He attended Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, before joining the Royal Australian Navy in January 1986 as a Maritime Logistics Officer. In 1988 he graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy as a member of the first class to be wholly trained there.
CDRE Murray’s service at sea with the Navy has included postings as the Maritime Logistics Officer of the hydrographic ship HMAS FLINDERS, and then as commissioning Deputy Maritime Logistics Officer of HMAS ANZAC and Maritime Logistics Officer of HMAS NEWCASTLE. During his time onboard NEWCASTLE he deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf in 2002 enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq as part of OPERATION SLIPPER.
Ashore as junior officer CDRE Murray served in the Naval Establishment at HMAS CAIRNS, as the Integrated Logistics Support Manager for Oberon Class submarines, as a career manager within Naval Officers Postings, and as the J1(Personnel) in Headquarters Australian Theatre. Upon promotion to Commander, CDRE Murray served as the Fleet Human Resource Manager at the Fleet Headquarters in Sydney from 2003 to 2005. He then undertook a two year overseas posting, from 2006 to 2007, with the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence in Bath, working on Supply Chain improvement projects in the Defence Equipment and Support organization.
In 2008 he was appointed as the Director of Navy Logistics in Navy Strategic Command, following promotion to Captain. In 2009 he joined Headquarters Joint Operations Command as the Director of Logistics Operations (J43). During that posting, in 2010, he led a joint team to the UAE and Afghanistan to redesign the Australian Defence Force logistic support arrangements. In 2011 CDRE Murray returned to the position of Director of Navy Logistics in Navy Strategic Command. CDRE Murray is a graduate of the 2013 Australian Defence Strategic Studies Course. Upon completion of the course in December 2013, he was promoted to Commodore and assumed his current position as Director General Support (J1/4) at Headquarters Joint Operations Command outside Canberra.
Academically CDRE Murray has been awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Econ), a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, a Master of Defence Studies, a Master of Arts and a Master of
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Business Administration. As well as graduating from the Defence Strategic Studies Course in 2013, CDRE Murray was the last Navy graduate from the Army Command & Staff College at Fort Queenscliff in 1999. CDRE Murray is the Chairman of the Navy Canteen Board; he is a Certified Professional of the Australian Human Resources Institute, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia and a Graduate Member of the Institute of Australian Company Directors.
Statement:
Slide 1: Opening Slide
• Good morning…..welcome to Day 3 and the Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events Theme
• Thank you very much for the invitation from PACOM and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) to facilitate this important session. I am pleased to be here among our friends from the Pacific region and especially the Oceania nations.
• Once again Fiji has been subject to a damaging cyclone – TC Winston and it is against this backdrop we’re talking about improving community resilience in the face of natural disasters and protecting both lives and property. It’s not just the damage to buildings and other infrastructure but the lost work time, the cleanup costs and the adverse impacts on people’s health, including the psychological impacts of disasters on communities.
Slide 2: Introduction
• Climate change scientific predictions indicate an increased frequency of high-intensity cyclones, rainfall leading to flooding, saltwater inundation and water-borne disease transmission for the Oceania region is likely to occur into the foreseeable future (REF: Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program (PACCSAP): http://www.pacificclimatechangescience.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PACCSAP- factsheet_Climate-extremes.pdf) (Defence White Paper 2016)
• These events act as threat-multipliers which can undermine cultural, social, political, economic and environmental systems.
• As a consequence, the ability of vulnerable communities to manage, adapt and recover from these threats is greatly dependent on resilience.
• The sensible idea is that we don’t just replace like with like, but repair and rebuild damaged infrastructure to withstand disasters. That’s going to cost more in the short term. But in the longer run, making our infrastructure less vulnerable to damage will
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reduce the future costs to governments. The idea is to “build back better”. Perhaps that is a theme we can pursue in the later discussion.
Slide 3: Australian Government Response - TC Winston
• Before I introduce the resilience theme more fully, I would like to briefly outline the response to TC Winston by Australia through a Whole of Government effort.
• Operation Fiji Assist provided support to Fiji following TC Winston. Initially the focus was military delivered HADR relief. This relief effort transitioned after several weeks to longer term reconstruction support to the Fijian Government and people.
• At its peak, the Australian emergency relief effort included around 1000 ADF personnel, the Royal Australian Navy’s biggest ship, HMAS CANBERRA, and around 60 civilian specialists in disaster relief from the Australian Government.
• Once HMAS Canberra left in late March, approximately 200 ADF personnel from Joint Task Force 635 remained in Fiji as a land-based humanitarian aid and disaster relief force. This ongoing assistance to the Fijian authorities came at the request of the Government of Fiji as they transitioned from their initial emergency response phase to a recovery phase.
• Assistance was provided to the islands of Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Koro, with engineering and amphibious assets being delivered to assist the Fiji Military and local villagers with the cleanup of debris and repair of damaged infrastructure. Fiji and Australian military forces worked together to help local communities get back on their feet. The focus was on helping these communities begin to rebuild. An emphasis was placed on assessing damage, and assisting the Fijian National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) restore key infrastructure such as schools, roads and community shelters. This relief effort, led and coordinated by the Fijian authorities was highly successful and something that Australia (and the ADF) is well practiced in.
• One aspect highlighted in our subsequent post operational reporting noted that the creation and sharing of on-line GEOINT products developed by the Joint Task Force greatly assisted in enhancing situational awareness within the NDMO, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the various contributing organizations to the HADR effort. The fact that these products could be handed over to host nation Fiji for ownership and management meant that an enduring effect to support ongoing recovery efforts beyond the deployment of ADF could be generated.
Slide 4: What is Resilience?
So what is resilience?
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• Resilience embraces complexity; works with the dynamic nature of cultural, social, ecological and economic systems – all of which are integrated. • Planning and implementing effective resilience should think long and short term effects. • Resilience brings change, risk, and uncertainty that must be balanced alongside community rights, needs and vulnerabilities. • To operationalize resilience; we need to understand what it means. • There are many different conceptualizations of resilience ranging from psychological, social and ecological to economic. • And what may work for one community, may not work for another and therefore resilience building should not be considered a one-size-fits all.
Slide 5: Why be Resilient
What are the reasons and benefits for being resilient? Why should countries invest in resilience- building for communities?
• Resilience is smart economics. • Usual model is to spend >90% of disaster funding after an event in recovery and the remainder on future mitigation and preparedness. • Case studies in Australia show for every $1 spent on mitigation measures prior to an event lead to a $3 to $8 in benefit to a community post disaster in terms of minimizing the cost of rebuild/recovery (REF: http://www.investa.com.au/investa-champions- disaster-resilience-safer-communities/). • Other research shows this benefit could be as high as $1 to $13 cost benefit ratio (Bergin, Anthony; It makes sense to spend before disaster strikes, The Australia, p.10, 13 January 2016). • So resilience funding is an investment into the future of a nation. • It is instructive to look at Australia’s National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy. It points out that on average, cyclones cause more than $630 million in damage a year and that is likely to increase into the future. While the Strategy focuses on priority areas to build disaster resilient communities across Australia, it also recognizes that disaster resilience is a shared responsibility for individuals, households, businesses and communities, as well as for governments.
Slide 6: Factors for Effective Resilience
There are several factors that contribute to effective resilience
• Strong communications networks and information sharing capability (particularly with an ability to operate in compromised environments). • Good understanding of natural hazard risk profiles and the way in which they can change throughout communities.
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• Identification of critical infrastructure and services and a focus of strengthening the protection of these assets. • Effective identification and monitoring of threats (including accurate cyclone prediction and monitoring, flood and inundation models) • Most importantly, disaster resilience is a shared responsibility for individuals, households, businesses and communities, as well as for governments. • Perhaps these are some of the areas to explore in our subsequent discussion.
Slide 7: Multi-Lateral Resilience Building Opportunities
• Opportunities do exist for multi-lateral resilience building opportunities. One way is to exercise a “plug-in” response capability with neighboring countries, which is a feature of Australia’s approach to building resilience; however, not necessarily military in nature. • This allows swift integration of an external responder into an extant Disaster Management Framework. For example, Fiji and Australia conducted Ex Longreach in late 2015, a disaster response exercise which in turn assisted in the later response to TC Winston. Some 25 specialist military and civilian personnel were provided by Australia for Exercise Longreach which assisted in building the capacity of the NDMO and establishing productive working relationships. Some benefits included: o The establishment of ongoing relationships within respective organizations which allowed for a more rapid ramp up in the early stages of the response to TC Winston. o Training together before TC Winston or other disaster strikes builds capacity and resilience. o As seen in the aftermath of TC Winston the use of GEOINT products provided by Australia can enhance information sharing, situational awareness, and recovery effort planning and feed back into the natural hazard risk profiles. o Another example is Exercise Pacific Partnership 2016 (PP16). PP16 is an annual Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) program sponsored by Commander United States Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) with the aim of strengthening alliances, and promoting multilateral security cooperation during peace, stability and consequence management operations. • Australia will assist in providing medical, dental and engineering personnel to help capacity building and resilience to disaster situations in several countries during PP16 including; Timor Leste, Republic of the Philippines, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Malaysia, the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Palau.
Slide 8: Home Grown Resilience – Cyclone Proof Homes
I would like to include in my opening remarks a practical example of operationalizing resiliency and to “build back better”.
• The Fiji Times and ABC Australia recently highlighted a home grown Fijian resiliency story. (Narsey, Waden; Winston’s Lessons The Fiji Times online, February 27, 2016), Fox,
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Liam; Cyclone Winston: Village built by Australian man for Fiji’s poor survives unscathed, ABC on line, 27 Feb 2016) • Cheap, sturdy houses designed by an Australian man Peter Drysdale survived TC Winston and could provide a potential blueprint for future reconstruction efforts. • Peter explained that the houses were so strong due primarily to the roof construction. • Through the use 10 coils of steel strapping and 1000 roofing and wall screws in every house, there was no weak connection from ground to roof. • He designed the small, simple houses to be tough after decades spent rebuilding cyclone-damaged homes in rural parts of Fiji • At $13 000 per house this appears to be an affordable option not just in Fiji but other island communities.
Slide 9: Concluding Remarks
• A disaster resilient community is one that works together to understand, prepare for and manage the risks that it confronts. Disaster resilience is the collective responsibility of all sectors of society, including all levels of government, business, the non- government sector and individuals. If all these sectors work together with a united focus and a shared sense of responsibility to improve disaster resilience, they will be far more effective than the individual efforts of any one sector. (Council of Australian Governments; National Strategy for Building Resilience, February 2011)
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Presentation Title: Tropical Cyclone Winston Response
Date: 26 May 2016
Time: 0915 - 0945
Theme: Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events
Speaker:
Mr. Luke Koroisave, Chief Economic Planning Officer, Sectorial Regional Division, National Development & Strategic Planning, Ministry of Finance, Republic of Fiji
Biography:
Mr. Koroisave received his early education at Delana Methodist High School from 1982 – 1989 before he joined the University of the South Pacific and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Economic & Demography) in 1995. He also obtained a Secondary Teacher Training Certificate at the Fiji College of Advance Education in 1995, and taught for seven years with the Ministry of Education before joining the Ministry of National Planning in 2002. Mr. Koroisave has risen up the ranks at the Ministry of National Planning, and has now attained the position of Chief Economic Planning Officer. During these years, he also had the privilege to be seconded to the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Natural Disaster Management on the implementation of the Integrated Rural Development Framework. In 2014, Mr. Koroisave obtained a Masters of Public Policy specializing in Social Policy from the Australia National University, Canberra.
Mr. Koroisave’s expertise lies in research skills, team collaboration, and idea development. He creates policy formulation, data development, statistical analysis, and evaluates and monitors capital projects. In addition to all of this, Mr. Koroisave’s core responsibilities are to coordinate National and Divisional Strategic planning; supervise and monitor capital expenditure projects; coordinate Tender process; and submission of quarterly acquittals for projects implemented by the Office of the Divisional Commissioners. Mr. Koroisave has had many work achievements, which include formulation of capital projects, development of strategic plans, and other government initiatives. Mr. Koroisave has attended many workshops, seminars and conferences locally, as well as regionally and international. Mr. Koroisave’s other interests are technology, regional and global economics, politics, and environmental issues. He is married with four lovely children, and he likes all types of sports.
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Abstract:
The three thematic areas for Tropical Cyclone Winston relief assistance were 1) meeting basic needs (food, water, clothing, shelter and health); 2) restoring lifeline services; and 3) economic recovery. The guiding principles for implementing the Fijian government relief assistance were: Speed; Cooperation; Communication; Economics; Concentration; Flexibility; and Accountability. This presentation will highlight the Government of Fiji’s best practices and lessons-learned to conducting a Post-Disaster National Assessment following the 2016 storm.
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Presentation Title: 2011 Tuvalu and Tokelau Drought
Date: 26 May 2016
Time: 0945 - 1015
Theme: Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events
Speaker:
LTCOL Terry McDonald, Director of Strategic Development, Army General Staff, New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand
Biography:
Lieutenant Colonel Terry McDonald, Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers, is currently serving in Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force, Army General Staff as the Director of Strategy Development.
Lieutenant Colonel McDonald has served in multiple command appointments within the Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers and in a number of staff appointments in various headquarters. He has deployed multiple times on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions into the South Pacific including as the New Zealand Commander Landing Forces, in Nuiatoputapu in Tonga and the mission Commander Landing Forces in Vanuatu for the multi-national Exercise Pacific Partnership 2011. He also led the NZDF emergency response to the island nation of Tuvalu in October 2011.
Lieutenant Colonel McDonald has had operational duty serving with the Truce Monitoring Group in Bougainville in 1996. He deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) in late 2002 as an Engineer Reconnaissance Officer, to the International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan) Headquarters in early 2003 as an Engineer staff officer and United Nations Mission in Sudan in 2009 as the Chief of military plans. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald was awarded the New Zealand Chief of Army’s commendation for his service in Afghanistan and a United Nations Force Commanders Commendation for his service in Sudan. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald attended the United States Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth in 2012 where he earned his Master’s Degree.
Lieutenant Colonel McDonald is married to Lisa, they have an 8 year old daughter and a 4 1/2 year old son. He enjoys recreational cycling and running, however, only in good weather. He is also an avid history reader.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Abstract:
Through 2011 the Pacific was subject to a severe La Nina weather event which impacted regional rainfall and led to two South Pacific countries declaring a state of emergency over prolonged drought conditions. The atoll nations of Tokelau and Tuvalu, both with little or no subsurface water, contend with climate change issues, but also rely on reverse osmosis and rainfall for potable water. By October 2011, the situation in Tokelau was serious, as such, the New Zealand and United States governments deployed military forces to the region to support the 1500 residents across the atolls of Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo. At the same time in Tuvalu without normal rainfall for six months, the New Zealand and Australian governments with the Red Cross and other agencies deployed to support their government to provide water on the islands of Funafuti and Nukulaelae.
The type of situation and associated international response is becoming more the norm with increasing frequency in the Pacific; what sets this situation apart is not the immediacy of the emergency, but rather the slow ebb towards the crisis. Regardless of the locale or scale, the events in late 2011 provide lessons to military forces and other agencies that remain similar irrespective of the situation. The presentation will provide a brief overview of the deployments into Tokelau and Tuvalu focusing on lessons and actor interactions in three key areas: Humanitarian Assistance as a system of systems, unpacking the problem and information in a vacuum.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: American Samoa 2009 Tsunami - Then and Now
Date: 26 May 2016
Time: 1045 - 1115
Theme: Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events
Speaker:
Mr. Iuniasolua T. Savusa, Director, Department of Homeland Security, American Samoa
(Delivered by Justin Pummell, Geographer, Institute for Water Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Biography:
Iuniasolua T. Savusa is a native of American Samoa has been involved with maintaining and securing the United States for over 40-years. Savusa first enlisted as a soldier in the United States Army initially serving as an infantry rifleman and made his way up to Command Sergeant Major (CSM) of Unified Combatant Command. He served four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as CSM of the Combined Joint Task Force in Baghram, Afghanistan and CSM of the International Security Assistance Force (NATO) holding dual roles as the CSM of the United States Force-Afghanistan, Kabul Afghanistan. Senior Enlisted Leader of the Pacific Command at Camp Smith, HI was CSM (Ret.) Savusa’s last leadership role prior to leaving the U.S. Army.
Savusa graduated from all Noncommissioned officers education system including the Sergeant Majors’ Course, holds an Associate of Arts degree from Kemper Military School and College and is currently working on a Bachelors’ of Science in Business Management. Since 2013, Savusa is currently serving as Director of the American Samoa Department of the Homeland Security. Savusa has served as a State Representative for a Major Disaster Declaration for Severe Flooding in the Territory as well as managed and directed activities of a plane crash and search and rescue operations.
Savusa has been promoting emergency management as a community shared responsibility and integrating the private sector into the local emergency response and fostering sustainable and resilient communities in American Samoa. Additionally, Savusa is appointed by statue as the Territory Coordinating Officer and Chairman for the Human Trafficking Task Force.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Abstract:
Mr. Pummell spoke on the 2009 American Samoa tsunami, and the resiliency measures that have been implemented since the disaster. Mr. Pummell commenced the presentation by providing background on America Samoa and the American Samoa Department of Homeland Security’s mission. Next, he explained the tsunami’s impacts to the territory, and where tsunami destruction was the highest on the main island of Tutuila. Mr. Pummell then described how the US’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) got involved. The remainder of the presentation focused on disaster resiliency related to key livelihood sectors such as energy, communications, ports, and medicine. Mr. Pummell explained how American Samoa has developed new tsunami evacuation maps that use improved data to clearly show potential impact zones. He described how the tsunami knocked out the Satala Power Plant, how a temporary solution was employed after the disaster, and how a permanent solution was worked out to make the territory more resilient. Mr. Pummell also shared lessons learned in enhancing the communication network and medical procedures to better support the local populace. Mr. Pummell concluded the presentation by highlighting civil-military cooperation, and how the Government of American Samoa utilized the military’s unique capabilities to advance disaster recovery.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: Closing Ceremony Statement
Date: 27 May 2016
Time: 1500 - 1510
Theme: Closing Ceremony
Speaker:
Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Milhorn, Commanding General, Pacific Ocean Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, United States of America
Biography:
On July 18, 2014, Brigadier General Jeffrey L. Milhorn became the 31st Commanding General and Division Engineer for the Pacific Ocean Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
As the Division Engineer, he is responsible for a mission that includes engineering design, construction and real estate management for the Army in Hawaii, Army and Air Force in Alaska, and for all Department of Defense Services and Agencies in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Pacific Ocean Division administers the Corps’ federal water resource development program and waters and wetlands regulatory programs in Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Division program includes the $10 billion multi-year Korea Transformation Program and the $15.8 billion multi-year U.S.-Japan Defense Policy Review Initiative. Pacific Ocean Division also supports U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Army Pacific’s Theater Security Cooperation strategies, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Response Program, and Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness with projects throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
Prior to his present USACE command, Brigadier General Milhorn served as the Chief of Staff, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Brigadier General Milhorn also served in a variety of command and staff assignments both in the Continental United States and overseas. Command positions include: Deputy Commanding General, Joint Task Force 505 (Nepal Earthquake) Operation Sahayogi Haat; Commander, 130th Engineer Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Commander, 173rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne) at Bamberg, Germany, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He served as Deputy Chief of Operations, U.S. Army Europe in Heidelberg, Germany, and as a Joint Staff Officer in the National Geospatial – Intelligence Agency in Chantilly, Virginia. He also served as a Project Engineer at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, while assigned to the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Brigadier General Milhorn is a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1990. He holds a master’s degree in Construction Engineering & Project Management from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a National Security Fellow of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Missouri.
Statement:
Bula! First and foremost, I would like to recognize all who made this event possible. To our co- sponsor, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, and the Republic of Fiji; Commodore Ian Murray of the ADF; Commodores from Sri Lanka; to all of our participants, support staff, hotel staff, and event planners…
On behalf of ADM Harry Harris and United States Pacific Command, I would like to extend our most sincere “Thank you” and appreciation to our co-sponsor, RADM Naupoto and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF). Together, we enjoyed the collaborative discussions & exchange of ideas, opportunities, and some challenges that we all face associated with environmental security…as described this week by civilian authorities and experts, military and police from across 19 different countries. Perhaps what is most important to take away, aside from actions and future opportunities for collaboration, is “Why?” we meet in these forums. It’s always important to start with “Why?” – We want a better environment for our children, and our children’s children – they are our legacy and it is incumbent upon us and our respective nations to take actions today so that future generations will not have to face the same environmental security challenges associated with depleted natural resources that impact food, water, and energy security. We must act together (in accordance with international law) to address these monumental issues where capability and capacity may be lacking individually.
Through the sharing of best practices, lessons learned (both good and bad), and the collaboration between both civilian and military expertise from across the international community, we all recognize the global significance of the Oceania region and understand that challenges are best met together. We’ve shared numerous examples this week of “How?” to respond when environmental crises occur or what local communities are doing to address the protection of their natural resources at the grass root levels. We’ve been inspired by and also reviewed the complementary actions that are required for holistic environmental programs from “Ridge to Reef” and requisite actions necessary by all levels of government from “Community to Cabinet.” We’ve been informed and again shared lessons learned about tools & resources available for all of our use that will lend to improved disaster preparedness and resiliency. Speaking of resiliency, and though much recovery work is still ongoing here in Fiji, I must offer my heartfelt compliments to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces for co-sponsoring this event and two other international events – so soon after Tropical Cyclone Winston’s devastating impact.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
We have learned much and shared much over this past week, reinforcing the importance of “Why” we host these environmental security forums. Now, we transition from a community of interest into a community of action – honing in on topics of direct action and future focus areas of potential civil- military cooperation & collaboration – including oil spill response, waste management, alternative energy solutions, maritime security, disaster risk reduction, and integrated water resource management. As best described by Chris Sholes, Environmental Program Manager for USPACOM, “We are going to take the great ideas developed from this forum, prioritize them, and move out with implementation in the coming months.”
In closing, we must work together, civil and military, to promote environmental security. We must continue to share tools and build response and resiliency capacity. Environmental security is a global problem whose impacts do not recognize national borders. As such, Environmental Security remains a fundamental priority for the United States and USPACOM to continue enhancing our alliances and building partnerships so that all nations benefit from an environment that safeguards security, stability, prosperity, and peace for the entire region. We remain committed to broadening ties with all of our Indo-Asia-Pacific partners. As I began, I offer our most sincere “Thank you” and appreciation to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Cabinet representatives, participating nation Civilian, Military, and Police representatives. Mahalo nui loa and Vinaka vaka levu!
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Presentation Title: Closing Ceremony Statement
Date: 27 May 2016
Time: 1510 - 1520
Theme: Closing Ceremony
Speaker:
Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, Commander, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Republic of Fiji
Biography:
Commodore Viliame Naupoto has been a career Military Officer since 1982 when he joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and served in the Fiji Navy. During his military career, he has trained widely in Military Tactics, Leadership & Management from Military institutions in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States of America. He has held senior military appointments within the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, such as the Commander Fiji Navy, Director Finance & Logistics and currently the Commander. Commodore Naupoto has served 25 years as career officer in the RFMF until he was seconded to the Civil Service in 2007 as Director Immigration. He was later appointed as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests in 2009. He resigned from the appointment and was sworn in as the Minister for Youth and Sports in 2012. He then relinquished the ministerial portfolio prior to the general elections in September 2014.
During his posting to the civil service, he was also appointed to various government statutory bodies such as the Chairman of the Fiji Trade and Investment Board (FTIB), Fiji Pine Group and board member of the Fiji Audio Visual Commission.
Commodore Naupoto rejoined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces on 2nd February 2015 and was appointed as Chief of Staff Headquarters RFMF. On Saturday 1st August 2015, he was appointed the Acting Commander RFMF for three months. The Acting appointment has been extended to a further three months which will expire in December 2015.
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2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum - Presentation Summaries
Statement:
Brigadier General Milhorn Distinguished Speakers Participants and Facilitators Ladies and Gentlemen
Ni sa bula vinaka.
Thank you for providing me this opportunity to share a few personal thoughts on the issue under discussion for the past four days. I see that we will not form a panel after this, so given that we will be spared questions, I have the liberty to say anything. (I hope that I have not spoken too soon on this.)
When we were offered to cohost this regional forum, we immediately said yes given the importance of the environment especially to small island states like Fiji and from a military perspective we value very much the opportunity to learn from others in how they grapple with the HADR tasks that follow natural disasters.
During the planning phase, TC Winston (which was not part of that Plan) visited Fiji. As we all know it is the second strongest hurricane recorded for the planet (with winds up to 296 kmph), second only to Super Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines on 8th November 2013 with winds up to 312 kmph). TC Winston timed it perfectly so that we can talk about it and learn the lessons in this forum.
TC Winston triggered the biggest military deployment in the South Pacific since World War II. At one time our airport in Nausori looked like Baghdad Airport given the number of military aircraft on the tarmac and those flying over. At the height of our response the Fijian Military was deploying 1000 troops on the ground per day. We had to march in some of our Territorial Force personnel to assist.
That is a big number when you consider that RFMF has a strength of 4030 out of which approximately 1000 are deployed in peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and South Sudan. We were in the middle of conducting pre deployment training for our troops to deploy to one of the peacekeeping missions that we participate in. They quickly adjusted and assisted in delivering rations and water and clearing debris before they were relived and then continued with their training. On one hand you are learning to react correctly to roadside bombs so you can survive, on the other hand you are carrying bags of rice and other food items to remote villages. Lt Col Macdonald mentioned that yesterday – training for something and doing something else (to para phrase him.)
I have been talking about the military in the last four minutes and deliberately so. I know that some would be listening or saying, “Hey, we also contributed to what you did”. I say to you, yes you are correct and we acknowledge that.
We in the military bring to you a wealth of skills and expertise and an attitude to getting things done regardless. You give us something to do and we will work out 20 ways of doing it. We will choose one and work away, if it does not work we go for the second option and we will repeat that process
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if we have to until the task is done. But guaranteed, the task will be done. The one thing we have in abundance is what I call “the warrior mentality”. It is something that is inbuilt into military personnel through training and through the experience of living a regimented and disciplined way of life. It is that warrior mentality that allows us to deploy to disaster/crisis situations very quickly even at times when others feel that it is unsafe to do so, or to sail through rough seas to save lives.
But let me emphasize one thing. We in the military tend to think sometimes if not most of the time, that we know everything when in fact we don’t. We do not know everything and we cannot do everything! We need you our civilian counterparts as much as you need us. Yes sometimes we are scary…(I think that it is the army and their uniform that makes us look scary… navy I think we bring a sense of tranquility when we are around and we do not look scary in our whites!!...(maybe not).
I believe that the biggest success factor in any HADR operation is good collaboration between all parties. We need to build meaningful partnerships. Meaningful partnership will only come about if it is founded on respect. We need to respect each other’s ways of doing things and we should not force others to do things the way we do things. In fact we should be able to amend the way we do things to achieve some commonalities with our partners.
We should build trust amongst our partners, and we can do that through seminars and workshops like this forum, we should exercise together. We should know our counterparts at a personal level. Immediately after Winston passed, there was a communications blackout to areas along the path of the cyclone. It was after the NZ air force P3 flew over and took pictures when the magnitude of the devastation was realized and as head of the Military force I realized the huge task that we had tackle… and then I received two very comforting phone calls…from Air Chief Marshal Mark Binski the Australian Chief of Defence, General Tim Keating the NZ Chief of Defence basically telling me Viliame I have this force ready to deploy immediately and we are mobilizing this force to sail over...let me know if you need anything else. We factored that into our planning and breathed a little easy.
We need to build meaningful partnerships and build trust. That will be our success factor when we tackle together the consequences of future extreme climatic events.
Let me conclude by thanking Brigadier General Milhorn and your staff, PACOM and the US government for your very generous contribution and partnering with us as cohosts of this forum.
Thank you all for your participation and contribution during the forum. I hope that the forum was rewarding professionally and I also hope that you go back richer after this. It is said that true richness is not what you keep in your pockets but what you keep in your hearts and whenever we meet new people and make new friend we fill our hearts.
To our visitors from outside Fiji, I hope that you were able to sneak out sometime to see little more of Fiji and experience the Fijian hospitality. If you did sneak out, the General and I have agreed that you are forgiven.
I wish you all a safe journey back home and I hope that our paths cross again in the future.
Vinaka vakalevu.
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