Climate Change & Development Community Climate Change & Development (CCD) Community, of the Pacific Solution Exchange Consolidated Reply Query: Island Bright Spots. Examples; Experiences Compiled by Setaita Tavanabola, Research Associate, and Ruci Yauvoli, Intern Issue Date: 09 October 2013 From Jessica Robbins, Global Island Partnership, New York, USA Posted 26 August 2013 Dear Members, In preparation for the 2014 International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Third International Conference for SIDS, the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) would like to call for recommendations of island bright spots that: - Demonstrated measurable success / impact in advancing conservation of island biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods - Potential to be scaled and replicated - Be a community, national, regional or global island initiative Bright Spots: Island success is built upon initiatives that work; this is referred to as ‘bright spots’. Bright spots can be activities, projects, programs, policies or initiatives at any level that are making a difference in advancing conservation of island biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods and have the potential to be scaled and replicated. It offers a solution to help overcome global conservation challenges. Why Island Bright Spots: Islands are taking action and making progress in the face of major geographic, economic and social challenges however further commitment is needed to continue to build on what is working and maintain resilient ecosystems, strong island economies and sustainable livelihoods. To continue to advance we need to build on what is working. We need to invest in those bright spots which have the potential to be scaled and replicated. GLISPA is committed to the identification, review and sharing of bright spots as a mechanism to achieve its mission to promote action for island conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Island Bright Spot will help to: - Inspire leadership by celebrating what is working in islands and those leaders that are committed to success - Catalyze commitments by encouraging investment in bright spots - Facilitate collaboration by exchanging solutions for islands to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss. Based on the success of the Island Bright Spots event at CBD COP-11, GLISPA will identify opportunities to enable sharing of bright spots as well as to promote investment in the scale and replication of bright spots. Please do share or recommend Bright Spots now by sending concise recommendations on: What is the bright spot? (Give title of the “bright spot”, something “inspirational and catchy”) What are the key results or impacts? (Not more than 150 words) What are the essential elements that made it successful i.e. if someone else wanted to replicate your success what would they absolutely need to have? (3 – 5 bullet points; see above link for examples) Include in your response 1. A quote/statement from a high level person/community member 2. 2 to 5 photos of the bright spot and 3. Contact details of focal point Responses were received, with thanks, from 1. Mere Valu, Nature Fiji, Suva, Fiji 2. Michael Smith, Organic Matters Foundation, Australia 3. Semisi Meo, Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 4. Marica Vakacola and Soropepeli Seru, Mamanuca Environment Society, Nadi, Fiji 5. Cheryl Thomas, CertLink, Vanuatu 6. Tom Dick, Vanuatu 7. Neil Davidson, Integrative Services, Wicked Solutions Broking, Australia 8. Sainimere Veitata, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 9. Aliti Koroi, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 10. Viliamu Iese, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 11. Response 2, Viliame Iese, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 12. Response 3, Viliame Iese, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 13. Leone Limalevu, Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji 14. Floyd Robinson, United Nations Development Programme, Multi-Country Office, Suva, Fiji 15. Joeli Veitayaki, School of Marine Studies, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji Further contributions are welcome! Summary of Responses Comparative Experiences Related Resources Responses in Full Summary of Responses Island Bright Spots are island successes built upon initiatives that work and here members have shared activities, projects, programs, initiatives at community, national and regional level that are making a difference in advancing conservation of island biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods and have the potential to be scaled and replicated. A total of 15 potential Island Bright Spots were shared from around the Pacific, six community level initiatives, five national level and four at regional level. The potential Bright Spots will be reviewed by a committee to identify those Bright Spots are advancing conservation and sustainable livelihoods and have the potential to be scaled and replicated. These Island Bright Spots will be shared and promoted by the Global Island Partnership as well as profiled during the International Year of Small Island Developing States. Regarding its potential to be replicated, the Cakaudrove Integrated Community Resource Management submitted by the University of the South Pacific is already replicating its approach in five provinces namely Rewa, Bua, Lau, Serua and Macuata. The approach takes on an integrated forest and marine conservation, somewhat similar to a ridge-to-reef approach to conserve Cakaudrove’s biodiversity. The Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation Project submitted by a member from the Pacific Centre for Sustainable Development (PACE SD) is replicating what they call the PACE SD Methodology in other parts of Fiji as well. This methodology ensures the sustainability of community projects and takes into account disaster risk reduction when addressing climate change impacts; it integrates biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management and the community’s livelihoods. A few other Island Bright Spots have yet to explore opportunities to replicate and scale up its initiatives while others have plans currently in the pipeline. Many of these initiatives have demonstrated measurable success in advancing conservation of island biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. From the community level, one of the initiatives to be noted is the Conservation of Mount Nabukelevu Initiative in Kadavu located south of Fiji. Nature Fiji submitted the initiative highlighting a new farming technique for sustainable farming on slopes that prevents soil erosion. The initiative also helped set up a nursery to house propagated sandalwood seedlings and native tree species, and a beekeeping business for youths whereby profits are directed to a trust fund for education purposes. From the national level, the ‘I Love Soil School Training Program’ submitted by Organic Matters Foundation based in Fiji and Australia shared how its assisting farmers on sustainable food production through a training course on Biological and Ecological farming. Taro production yield across Taveuni sites rose from industry average of 900grams to 1.2kilograms and the reject rate dropped from the industry standard of 25% to 10%. The initiative immerses local farmers, community groups and students in learning experiences that facilitate the acquisition of a skill base. It assists farmers on the path to sustainable food production that has brought about positive effect on community dynamics, health and hope. At regional level, the Food Security Research Group conduct reviews of all Food Security projects in the Pacific. Part of the research focuses on impact analysis of how various food security projects at community and national level affect the livelihood of people, whether they are effective, efficient, sustainable or unsustainable. Information from the research is then provided to the people to help them in their various project implementation and decision makings. These initiatives share a common and important essential element, that is the importance of partnership at all levels. The success of the initiatives was credited to its collaboration with key national departments and/or regional organisations working toward the same goal. Community buy in was established particularly those of a high social status such as the traditional leaders and provincial council offices to gain the trust and cooperation of community members. Each recommendation is either directly or indirectly contributing to the conservation of island biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. A challenge that could be drawn from these initiatives is the assurance to sustain the project well after the projects end date. Many are making a paradigm shift from project-based to people-based implementations and understanding that when addressing climate change it is important to also note that it’s a development issue and sustainable development needs to be part of projects core objective. Comparative Experiences Fiji Conservation of Mount Nabukelevu, Kadavu (from Mere Valu, Nature Fiji, Suva, Fiji) Soil erosion was prevented and communities were able to plant 4500 pineapple suckers as a part of a sustainable land management technique. By setting up a nursery,