APN Global Change and Coral Reef Management Capacity in the Pacific

A two day workshop was held on 9 and 10 June at the Marine Studies Centre at USP, and it came at an opportune time as it coincides with 2010 being the year of biodiversity. The workshop was facilitated by USP IMR and PACE-SD and with kind support from the Asia Pacific Network (APN) for Global Change Research. The “Global Change and Coral Reef Management Capacity in the South Pacific” workshop reflected on engaging scientists and policy makers in Fiji, Samoa, Tuvalu and Tonga so that policy makers can be apprised of the impacts of global change and of those factors that are affecting the healt
h of our coral reefs, using the most recent information available.

An extract from the workshop programme revealed that in Fiji, “Healthy Coral reefs are vital to the sustainability of the peoples’ livelihoods in the Pacific Islands. Global change has increasing impacts on Pacific coral reefs, including sea level rise, increased sea surface temperature, ocean acidification, and natural phenomenon like cyclones, all of which increase the vulnerability of coastal communities. Integrating this knowledge of global change across various national government sectors, then translating this into policies that lead to sustainable management of coastal ecosystems remains a challenge. This was addressed through face-to-face dialogue between reef experts familiar with the science of climate change, and government personnel responsible for the development of appropriate policies focusing on the sustainable management of coral reefs”.

Government personnel in attendance included the Permanent Secretary for Fisheries, Mr Viliame Naupoto, who presented the panels with the status of policies and legislation in support of sustainable management of Fiji’s coral reefs; Mr Jope Davetanivalu, Director for the Department of Environment, conveyed the subject of the Environment Management Act which outlines environment impact assessments implications; and Ms Eleni Tikoduadua, the Principal Environment officer of the Department of Environment, tabled the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP).

This initiative will be to assist Pacific Island countries in translating this recent information into policies that leads to sustainable management of coastal ecosystems; an integrated approach will be taken, bearing in mind the inter-dependence of the various coastal habitats associated with coral reefs (land-use, mangroves, and sea grass beds).

Source: USP Media