Ministerial Conference on
Environment and Development
in Asia and the Pacific 2000
Kitakyushu, Japan 31 August - 5 September 2000
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Pacific Island Regional Organizationsclick on the names for more informationThe Pacific Island governments have formed a network of
sub-regional organizations to pool their resources for development. There are
eight primary regional organizations; The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF),
the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the South
Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the South
Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), The University
of the Pacific (USP), the South Pacific Tourism Organization
(SPTO), and the Pacific Island Development Programme (PIDP). In addition, a number of other inter-governmental and International NGO organizations with established offices in the Pacific islands. These include: Asian Development Bank (ADB), | Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),| United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),| United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),| United Nations Fund For Population Activities (UNFPA),| START-OCEANIA,| The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research Foundation for the South Pacific (APN),| Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN),| Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI),| Greenpeace Pacific,| International Ocean Institute of the South Pacific (IOI-SP),| South Pacific Action Committee for Human Ecology and the Environment (SPACHEE),| The Nature Conservancy (TNC),| World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Other international organizations operate in the Pacific, usually in association with one or more of the above organizations. These include: the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), and bilateral donor organizations. Additional organizations and resources are listed on the Internet links page. The Pacific Islands Forum (Previously the South Pacific Forum) is comprised of the heads of government of the 16 independent island nations of the Pacific. It’s secretariat, ForSec, executes the requirements of the Heads of Government as set forth during annual meetings. ForSec provides the lead coordination role in the region. The Secretary-General of ForSec is the permanent Chair of the Council of Regional Organizations for the Pacific (CROP) and the Division of Development and Economic Policy serves as the CROP secretariat. ForSec’s mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being of the people of the Pacific islands, in support of efforts of national governments. To read the Forum Vision Statement (which is a good one) click on Forum Vision. Forum Secretariat (Fiji) http://www.forumsec.org.fj/ Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) provides technical support to the Pacific Islands Forum and its members. The heart of SPC is its integrated Work Programme. This powerful combination of diverse disciplines offers a unique approach to the development of the region's LAND-BASED, MARINE-Based and SOCIAL resources. The focus of the Work Programme is now technical assistance, education and training, delivered through courses, workshops and seminars at the in-country, sub-regional and regional levels. However, the Commission still has strong applied research components, particularly in its Oceanic Fisheries and Agriculture Programmes. Health, Marine Resources, Forestry, Statistics, Demography, Women, Culture, Youth, Rural Technology, Economics, Media Centre, Maritime, Community Education Training Centre, Agriculture, and Renewable Energy. Secretariat for the Pacific Community (New Caledonia) http://www.spc.org.nc/ The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) assists its 16 National members with the sustainable development and management of their fisheries. FFA advises on marine boundary delimitation, legal, technical and economic issues, monitoring and surveillance of foreign fishing activity, human resource and institutional strengthening, applied fisheries research, policy assessments and organization and representation at international fisheries meetings. For specifics on negotiations for high seas fisheries, click here. Forum Fisheries Agency (Solomon Islands) http://www.ffa.int/ The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) was established in 1972 and assists its members in the assessment, exploration and development of their nearshore and offshore mineral and other marine non-living resources, provides baseline data for coastal engineering and development, hazard evaluation, hydrography and survey activities, Geographic Information Systems, the environmental effects of physical modifications to the coast, fresh water and sanitation issues. South Pacific Geoscience Commission (Fiji) http://www.sopac.org.fj/ The University of the South Pacific (USP) with 12 member nations, provides tertiary education and undertakes scholarly and applied research. It assists member nations with educational matters and has branch campuses in most of its member countries. University of the South Pacific (Fiji) http://www.usp.ac.fj/ The South Pacific Tourism Organization assists member countries with the sustainable promotion of tourism in the region and produces travel guides, exhibitions at international travel meetings, maintains a tourism oriented Internet site, collects tourism statistics, produces sector reviews, environmental guidelines and visitor surveys. SPTO: South Pacific Tourism Organization (Fiji) http://www.tscp.com/ The South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is the regional technical and coordinating body responsible for environmental matters in the Pacific, with membership comprising 26 Pacific Island States, territories and metropolitan countries. The mission of SPREP is to: "Promote cooperation in the South Pacific region and to provide assistance in order to protect and improve its environment and ensure sustainable development for present and future generations. SPREP shall achieve these purposes through the Action Plan adopted from time to time by the SPREP meeting, setting the strategies and objectives of SPREP." The Principal goal for 1997 to 2000 was to, "build national capacity in environmental and resource management through support to government agencies, communities, NGOs and the private sector." SPREP also serves as the secretariat for theConvention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region and related protocols 1986 (the SPREP Convention) and the Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific 1986 (The Apia Convention). SPREP: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (Samoa) http://www.sprep.org.ws/ Pacific Islands Development Programme (PIDP) is based at the East West Center in Hawaii. PIPD assists the Pacific Islands with development related activities, often acting as an interface with private industry. For example, The Pacific Islands Business Network (PIBN) is a project of the United States-Pacific Islands Nations Joint Commercial Commission (JCC) being carried out by Pacific Islands Development Program of the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. PIBN serves as an information conduit to provide purchasing agents, overseas investors, and individual consumers with details about products and services available in JCC member Pacific Islands states. Via this new and expanding website, specific information about these products and services is available in electronic form over the Internet and has the potential to reach millions of users. PIBN is an attempt to harness the power of computer and telecommunications technology to project Pacific Islands products to distant markets. In addition to individual business information, country profiles are provided with information pertinent to doing business within that country. The U.S.-Pacific Island Nations Joint Commercial Commission is a multilateral, intergovernmental organization, formed in 1993. With 14 members, its main purpose is to promote and facilitate mutually beneficial commercial and economic relations between the United States and Pacific Island nations. The Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program serves as the administrative officer of the Executive Secretariat for the JCC and speaks on behalf of the 13 Pacific Island nations in matters with the United States. As a means of developing opportunities for trade and investment, the commission organizes conferences and workshops that identify potential business partners and trade investment opportunities in the Pacific Islands. It encourages the idea that the private sector can be a friend and partner in the development of the countries. The JCC expects to be a forum where we have dialogue and convince the governments that unless the people get involved in the process there is no hope for improving the standards of living in the islands. http://www.ewc.hawaii.edu/pidp/pidp0001.htm The South Pacific Organizations Coordinating Committee (SPOCC) Based at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, SPOCC is a voluntary association comprised of the heads of the eight regional organizations, the committee meets to discuss and co-ordinate regional activities. Other Governmental and Inter-Governmental Organizations in the Pacific IslandsAsian Development Bank South Pacific Regional Mission (ADB-SPRM)
The Asian Development Bank, a multilateral development finance institution, was founded in 1966 by 31 member governments to promote the social and economic progress of the Asian and Pacific region. Over the past 31 years, the Bank's membership has grown to 57, of which 41 are from within the region and 16 from outside the region. The Bank gives special attention to the needs of the smaller or less-developed countries and priority to regional, subregional, and national projects and programs. The Bank's principal functions are (i) to extend loans and equity investments for the economic and social development of its developing member countries (DMCs); (ii) to provide technical assistance for the preparation and execution of development projects and programs, and for advisory services; (iii) to promote and facilitate investment of public and private capital for development purposes; and (iv) to respond to requests for assistance in coordinating development policies and plans of its DMCs. The two largest shareholders of the Bank, as of 31 December 1997, were Japan and the United States, each accounting for 16 percent of total subscribed capital. Forty-one regional members accounted for 63 percent of total shareholding, while 16 nonregional members contributed 37 percent of total. The Bank's headquarters is located in Manila, Philippines. It has a regional mission in the South Pacific (Port Vila, Vanuatu) which undertakes Bank operations in South Pacific DMCs (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu), particularly strengthening the working relationship between the Bank and South Pacific DMC governments in processing and implementing loan and technical assistance projects in coordination with bilateral and multilateral donor agencies. The Bank's commitment to the principles of sustainable development and environment protection is one of the primary strategic objectives of the Bank. The Bank's major environmental activities in 1997 included (i) providing financial and technical assistance to facilitate -institutional and policy reforms, and build staff capacity in environmental agencies, enabling them to effectively carry out their mandate for -environmental protection and management; (ii) promoting cooperation among -countries in the region or subregion to address transboundary -environmental concerns, and to enhance possible environmental benefits occurring from subregional cooperation; (iii) ensuring, through the use of environmental assessment and review procedures, that Bank-funded projects are environmentally sustainable; (iv) financing projects that promote the sound management of natural resources, and rehabilitate and protect the environment; (v) undertaking resource center -activities to enhance Bank and DMC staff awareness on current and emerging environmental issues; and (vi) ensuring interagency collaboration to avoid costly duplication of efforts, and to enable the Bank to focus its assistance in critical areas. The South Pacific Regional Mission has a multi-disciplinary team of eight staff with expertise in economics and finance, engineering, infrastructure, agriculture and natural resources management. http://asiandevbank.org Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - Pacific Operations Centre (ESCAP/POC) ESCAP/POC is based in Port Vila, Vanuatu and provides policy and technical advisory services to ESCAP member and associate member states in the Pacific. Their 7 staff members have expertise in economics, finance, youth issues, social development and planning, infrastructure planning, design and implementation, economic development and planning, policy formulation and implementation. Contact escap@vanuatu.com.vu http://www.unescap.org Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific Islands (FAO-SAPA). Based in Apia, FAO-SAPA is the sub-regional office for FAO, the UN agency for monitoring and enhancing agricultural production, living resource management, and world food security. SAPA’s mandate is to galvanise regional efforts towards food security in the South Pacific. FAO also provides technical assistance to Pacific island countries in the fisheries sector. The 18 staff members have expertise in fisheries, integrated resources management, farming systems development and marketing, plant protection, forestry, nutrition and policy, marine resources information and women in development. Contact FAO-SAP@field.fao.org FAO South Pacific Aquaculture Development Project Phase II (SPADP) SPADP is a 5 year project for 15 Pacific island countries that provides technical assistance and support in the field of aquaculture development. The project promotes subsistence and commercial aquaculture production and restocking of over exploited fisheries resources, conducts resource surveys and provides management advice on living marine resources. Contact: faoaqua@mailhost.sopac.org.fj United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sub-Regional Resource Facility (SURF) In The Pacific The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Office in Suva, Fiji recently opened a Sub-Regional Resource Facility (SURF) serving 15 Pacific island countries. The Sub-Regional Resource Facility is a global initiative by UNDP to assist country offices with timely access to appropriate expertise, information and experience in order to help strengthen UNDP offices’ efficiency and professionalism. The Pacific SURF will directly serve the three UNDP offices in the Pacific - UNDP Apia which covers Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau; UNDP Suva which covers Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; and UNDP PNG which just covers Papua New Guinea. The global SURF network is serviced by a Global Hub, which is based in New York. The Global Hub provides the coordination necessary to ensure common standards and procedures among all SURFs. The Three Dimensions of SURF The Knowledge Dimension: SURF is responsible for the identification of cutting-edge innovations and best practices and for building professional networks. The SURF is actively building up professional contacts and links to persons, agencies and UNDP offices for expertise and information required to respond to demands from Country Offices in a timely manner. The SURF system acts as a ‘hotline’ through which the appropriate sources can be contacted, and then will follow-up with the Country offices to ensure that quality service was provided. Responses to queries and other valuable sources of information will be maintained in the automated system, in order to build a library of easily accessible knowledge. The Automation Dimension: SURF will be using information technology, and Internet in particular, as the means to search for, organize and disseminate available knowledge and expertise. The SURF system will maintain a common, password-protected web-site, where all the documented information and resources of interest to a Country Office would be easily accessible through any other SURF in a simplified search format. The Service Dimension: SURF will be available to countries, through the UNDP country offices, to undertake problem solving, evaluation or design missions. Such missions would not only directly support the country offices but could also include on-the-job skill transfer. A further service would be in-depth searches on databases to generate specific reports. The theme for the Pacific SURF is employment and sustainable livelihoods. UNDP’s Integrated Community Approach for Resource and Environment Programme (ICARE). Goal: To reduce pressure to the Pacific coastal environment by assisting these island countries to increase their capacity to generate increased production of food and cash income through ecologically sound alternative livelihood options. Target Group: Communities of PICs. Activities: Provide information on alternative livelihood options based on sustainable use of natural resources (non-timber forest products, low-technology food preservation/processing, aquaculture). Facilitate technical advisory community project implementation. SAP will interact with ICARE by demonstrating best practices to communities for managing freshwater resources, coastal fisheries, Marine Protected Areas, and waste reduction. ICARE is an active project of the core theme for UNDP’s 6th cycle of Pacific sub-regional programmes; Job Creation and Sustainable Livelihoods. Contact: registry@undp.org.fj United Nations Fund For Population Activities (UNFPA) The UNFPA Country Support Team for the South Pacific, based in Suva, Fiji, is one of eight regional technical support teams established by the United Nations Population Fund to provide countries with technical assistance and information to meet country needs in the population field. In fulfilling this function, apart from field missions, the Country Support Teams also try to foster active communication and open discussion with national experts to promote a more holistic approach to population programmes. The CST provides countries and territories in the Pacific with a wide range of high quality technical support services ranging from ad hoc advisory services to planned national and regional training programmes and close technical backstopping with the aim of developing national self reliance in the population field. Technical inputs by Team members are planned jointly by the Governments, the UNFPA Country Directors/Representatives, United Nations agencies and the CST Director, with UNFPA-funded project requests for technical assistance channelled through the UNFPA Country Offices. The services could be in the broad areas of:
Technical support services in these areas are available from the Team to all ministries, national training and research institutions, NGOs, etc. Where necessary, the Team will call upon the services of the Technical Support Service specialists and other experts at the United Nations agencies' headquarters and regional offices. The Team will also establish close working relationships with local experts, and thereby help strengthen national capacity in the population field. What Does The UNFPA CST Do? The functions of the CST include:
http://www.undp.org/popin/regional/asiapac/fiji/about.htm United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office for the Pacific States UNESCO promotes international exchange of intellectual knowledge. Their programmes cover social and human sciences, communication through the media, information and informatics as well as education, science and culture. UNESCO encourages new and constructive ways of networking different disciplines towards world peace. The office in Apia, Samoa was opened in 1984 to serve 14 member states. The 12 staff members, includes five professionals with expertise in social and environmental sciences, cultural aspects of the sustainable use of natural resources, including indigenous knowledge. Its projects include Education for Sustainable Village Living and Values for Sustainable Village Living. The International Hydrological Programme combines technical and social science studies of freshwater resource problems, especially groundwater pollution in villages and atoll groundwater recharge. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO coordinates international cooperative work on technical aspects of marine science and application to coastal management. It is also the lead agency in the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The World Heritage Convention provides an international system for designating sites of outstanding cultural and natural value. UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre is active in promoting World Heritage sites in the Pacific islands and works closely with the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The Man and the Biosphere Programme supports basic research on biodiversity and the International Biosphere Reserve network. In the Pacific the focus is on preserving culturally important plants and the scientific and cultural knowledge about them through the UNESCO-WWF-Royal Botanic Gardens People & Plants initiative. The World Solar Programme supports education and information activities related to the application of solar and other renewable energy, and will help create a regional renewable energy and training centre in PNG. UNESCO : United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization http://www.unesco.org START stands for the global change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training. START-Oceania is the latest addition to a number of networks established by START International. The areas of Research and Training that START is involved with include climate change and variability, changes in atmospheric composition, land use cover changes, changes in biodiversity and the human dimensions. The Secretariat is located at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. START-Oceania Secretariat Dr. K. Koshy Telephone (679) 212 151 Fax (679) 309 176 Telephone (679) 212446 Fax: (679) 302 548 Room 126, Building 091, The University of the South Pacific, P.O. Box 1168, Suva, Fiji School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Chemistry Department, The University of the South Pacific P.O. Box 1168, Suva, Fiji startoceania@usp.ac.fj koshy_k@usp.fj.ac http://www.sidsnet.org/pacific/usp/start/ Long Term Projects During the Inaugural START-Oceania weeklong international workshop in Oct 98, a number of projects were identified in the thematic areas of Climate Variability and Change and Coastal Zone Management. A brief summary of the Projects and funding status is given below Mangrove Management in the South Pacific The project's objective is to conduct a wide ranging scientific evaluation of past and present practices in the use of mangrove resources and identify those that may be applicable and / or transferable within the modern context of the South Pacific. Dr. Meg Keen (ANU) and Mr. Joeli Veitayaki (USP), who is currently doing a Ph.D. at ANU, head the project team. A proposal for a regional workshop on this important issue is with ACIAR and the comments is that it will be very favorably considered. The idea is to prepare a major proposal after the workshop for submission to GEF or other funders. Human and Ecological Dimensions of Urbanization in the South Pacific The main aim of this project is to develop a framework specific to the South Pacific context, which would enable a better analysis of, and response to, urbanization. Dr. Meg Keen (ANU) heads the project team. A proposal for funding will be submitted to APN for the next round of funding. ENSO impact on Fiji Sugar Production This project will be coordinated by Associate Professor, Dr. K. Koshy (USP) with support from the Fiji Meteorological Services and the Fiji Sugar Corporation. The project will investigate the impact of ENSO related climate variations on Fiji Sugar production. Negotiations are well under way with NOAA for funding. Changes in Atmospheric composition This project seeks to establish a program of regular atmospheric composition measurements located at USP, but serving the whole Oceania region. The principal aim is to quantify levels, trends and variability in GHG concentrations in the Oceania region. The project is being coordinated by Associate Professor, Dr. K. Koshy (USP). AUSAid has been approached to fund this project. AusAid's Climate Change Program for the Pacific is entering its third phase and START-Oceania together with USP has already made submissions for new research in this area. Coastal Zone Management This project is being coordinated by Associate Professor Dr. Nick. Harvey, (University of Adelaide). The project is being funded by APN. The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) is an inter-governmental network whose primary purposes are to foster global environmental change research in the Asia-Pacific region, increase developing country participation in that research, and to strengthen links between the science community and policy makers. It promotes, encourages and supports research activities on long-term global changes in climate, ocean and terrestrial systems, and on related physical, chemical, biological and socio-economic processes. APN Secretariat 5th Floor, IHD Centre Building 1-5-1 Wakinohama Kaigan Dori Chuo-ku Kobe 651-0073 JAPAN Tel: +81-78-230-8017 Fax: +81-78-230-8018 e-mail: info@apn.gr.jp APN activities are decided by the annual Inter-Governmental Meeting, and supported by the Steering Group and Scientific Planning Group. Liaison Officers in each area facilitate communications. The following is a brief outline of projects relevant to the Pacific Islands. PROJECT #98007 Title The Use and Extension of PACCLIM Integrated Model for Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment in Pacific Island Countries Project Leader Richard Warrick, International Global Change Institute, University of Waikato, NEW ZEALAND e-mail: r.warrick@waikato.ac.nz fax: +64-7-838-4289 Description A workshop to provide orientation and training in the use of the prototype PACCLIM system, to facilitate the transfer of skills and technology to Pacific Island countries and to plan the Stage 2 development of the system. Time and Location August 1999, Waikato, New Zealand PROJECT #980012 Title Monitoring and Prediction of ENSO Event and SSTA over the warm pool in the Western Pacific Ocean Project Leader Ding Yihui, National Climate Center, CHINA e-mail: yhding@public.bta.net.cn fax: +8610-617-6804 Description Establishment of an internet based monitoring system of ENSO events and the warm pool over the western Pacific Ocean, investigation of ENSO prediction and operational applications and the promotion and exchange of ENSO research through an international workshop. Time and Location Workshop February 2000 PROJECT #980012 Title Monitoring and Prediction of ENSO Event and SSTA over the warm pool in the Western Pacific Ocean Project Leader Ding Yihui, National Climate Center, CHINA e-mail: yhding@public.bta.net.cn fax: +8610-617-6804 Description Establishment of an internet based monitoring system of ENSO events and the warm pool over the western Pacific Ocean, investigation of ENSO prediction and operational applications and the promotion and exchange of ENSO research through an international workshop. Time and Location Workshop February 2000 Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN) South Pacific Field Office BCN was a US$20 million, 6-year programme funded by the US Agency for International Development through the US-Asia Environmental Partnership. BCN is part of the Biodiversity Support Program, a consortium of the World Wildlife Fund/US, The nature Conservancy, and the World Resources Institute. BCN provided twenty sizable grants to organizations in seven countries to set up or maintain enterprises that are linked to biodiversity. The bulk of the projects involve harvesting or processing non-timber forest products, and eco-tourism projects. BCN’s mandate includes the analysis of the effectiveness and impact of enterprise based conservation strategies. The BCN wound up in September 1999 leaving 20 conservation based enterprises in varying stages of development. All were still reliant on outside funding for survival and hence did not achieve sustainability. www.bcnet.org ICLARM Coastal Aquaculture Centre PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands ICLARM, based in the Philippine Islands, has a major aquaculture centre in the Solomon Islands that specialises in research on seed production and enhancement of commercially important species for the region. Scientists are conducting research on giant clams, beche-de-mer and pearl oysters. Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI) PO Box 951, Port Vila, Vanuatu FSP International is the Regional Pacific Network for the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific independent affiliates. Its board has representatives from each of the 10 FSP affiliates which include FSP/PNG, FSP/Kiribati; FSP/UK; Australian Foundation for Asia and Pacific; FSP/Vanuatu; FSP/FIJI; FSP/Tonga Trust; and FSP/USA. FSP International coordinates regional development programmes, communications and technical assistance for and between the independent FSP affiliates. The FSP network assists Pacific island communities with a broad range of environmental and sustainable development projects including eco-forestry, freshwater supply, and conflict resolution. They are part of the global NGO Counterpart http://www.counterpart.org based in Washington DC. Counterpart played a leading role in the organization of the Barbados Conference in 1994 and follow-up conferences for small island developing states. Greenpeace Pacific is a regional campaign center based in Suva. It is part of the Greenpeace International network, that enhances understanding of the working of the natural environment and aims to stop deleterious effects upon it. Greenpeace Pacific participates in or contributes to global campaigns and environmental issues of concern to Pacific peoples. There are 6 professional staff in the Suva Greenpeace office as well as professional staff based in the Solomons, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the United States who work on Pacific environmental issues. Greenpeace Pacific receives its funds entirely from private donations and it employs volunteer workers in addition to its professional staff. Projects include:
Contact: Greenpeace@is.com.fj International Ocean Institute of the South Pacific (IOI-SP) Based at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, IOI-SP is one of four operational centres of IOI. Set up in 1972 to promote the peaceful use of ocean space and its resources, their management and regulation as well as the protection and conservation of the marine environment. There are 2 professional staff but these work closely with the professional staff of the Marine Studies Programme of the University of the South Pacific. Their activities are mainly concerned with offshore areas and include: oceran resources and their management; fisheries; marine environment management strategies; marine biodiversity; law of the sea; marine technology; ports and marine transportation; renewable energy; communications and networking; and marine public awareness. IOI-SP cooperates with the organisations of the UN systems, other international organisations concerned with ocean affairs, governments, foundations, industries and academic institutions. Contact south_r@usp.ac.fj South Pacific Action Committee for Human Ecology and the Environment (SPACHEE) Established in 1983 and based at the University of the South Pacific, SPACHEE’s objectives are to improve cooperation and communication between people and agencies involved in environmental management and protection, environmental and human ecological research, and formal and non-formal environmental education. Contact: morris_ch@usp.ac.fj Activities include:
The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a US international NGO to preserve plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and water they need to survive. There are about 2000 staff in total, with 75 employed in the Asia/Pacific program. There are Pacific field offices in Palau, NZ, Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei), Solomon Islands, and PNG. The Nature Conservancy policy is to use cooperation rather than confrontation to forge effective partnerships with business, government, individuals and organisations that share a concern about the escalating rate of extinction worldwide. Strategies include an on-the-ground presence, encouragement of community participation, and building of in-country capacity to manage resources in a sustainable manner. Activities include:
The South Pacific Program Office is based in New Zealand and manages South Pacific country programmes in the Solomon Islands and PNG. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) The South Pacific Office for the WWF is based in Suva, Fiji and is funded by WWF International. There are six professional staff in the regional office and other professional staff in the Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, and PNG. The immediate goal of the Fiji and Cook Islands projects is to appraise natural resource-related activities by other organisations with a view to identifying, promoting and facilitating conservation effectiveness. The target groups are communities, other NGOs and government departments. WWF works with communities in the western province of the Solomon Islands to assist customary resource owners to develop sound resource management practices and viable sustainable development alternatives. Projects include;
Contact: wwfspp@is.com.fj http://www.panda.org
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