Progress report for
Launching a new initiative for the sustainable development of Pacific Island States and coastal States
Achievement at a glance
The Pacific BioScapes programme includes 30 activities in 11 Pacific Island countries. Most of the contracted activities are being implemented and monitored in a satisfactory manner and at the scheduled pace. The achievements made to date include the launching of the Sea Turtle Monitoring Manual; the completion of the Sea Turtle Comic Book; the (re)establishment and facilitation of three working groups to adapt the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) approach in Fiji, Vanuatu and Palau; field researches with collection of data and preliminary analysis related to mangrove health in Samoa and grouper fisheries in the Marshall Islands; as well as the motu-based rat eradication campaign in Kiribati among others.The Programme also coordinated, facilitated and supported two annual convenings of the Pacific Islands Round Table for Nature Conservation. Other high-profile milestones are completed or near completion, i.e. the regional marine species viewing guidelines, and the sea turtle tourism code of conduct. The drafting of the seabird populations monitoring manual and of a peer-review article from the plastic pollution assessment in Vanuatu are well underway.
Challenges faced in implementation
During its second year of implementation, the programme overcame most of the administrative constraints which affected the first year of the Action’s lifetime, mainly in contracting out activities. That has resulted in a significant improvement in delivery and an increase in committed funds. Other challenges, however, remain and are being mitigated to the best extent; in particular, the less than immediate response from some host country governments.Next Steps
Bénédicte CaremierBeneficiaries
Eleven Pacific countries, namely the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, are the current beneficiaries from activities funded by the programme with support ranging from national to community levels.