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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Pacific Biosphere Reserves Network: A tool for Exchange and Cooperation

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
#SDGAction40006
Description
Description
The dialogue is an existing partnership focusing on biodiversity for sustainable development to be recognised and showcased during the third SIDS Conference. The UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) have adopted years ago an inclusive and holistic approach towards sustainable development, notably through Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere Reserves, living and learning laboratories for sustainable development, are sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science. Through the years, these sites have proved they were efficient mechanisms not only for protecting what is in danger but also for preserving what is unique. Today, Biosphere Reserves are a recognized tool for monitoring, mitigating and adapting to the impacts of Climate Change as well as to sustainably manage the rich and unique biological and cultural diversity globally. In this respect, they are places which seek to reconcile economic development, social development and environmental protection through pragmatic and practical partnerships between people and nature, at the local, regional and international level.Currently, the UNESCO MAB Programme and the UNESCO Apia, Office for the Pacific States have embarked on a fresh initiative to revitalize the Pacific Biosphere Reserve Network (PacMAB) primarily through its 4th Meeting, which took place in Nadi, Fiji, 23-25 April 2014. The meeting allowed participants to acknowledge better each other needs, aspirations and expectations regarding the MAB programme and the establishment of Biosphere Reserves as tool for sustainable development in the Pacific. It was the occasion to reaffirm the uniqueness of the cultural, social and environmental features of the Pacific Islands and the necessity not only to protect but also to develop these significant attributes. To achieve these goals, the participants have demonstrated their strong interest in the pursuit of Biosphere Reserve objectives in the Pacific by recognizing Biosphere Reserves and PacMAB as vehicles for integrating biodiversity conservation management and sustainable development. In this regard, it was unanimously stated that that Biosphere Reserves were ideal places to reconcile economic development, social development and environmental protection, through partnerships between people and their environment in the Pacific region. This partnership will contribute for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States by:1. Strengthening the PacMAB network2. Nominations of new biosphere reserves 3. Promoting sustainable use of natural resources and sustainable development in the Pacific SIDS4. Enhancing environmental monitoring, research, training and capacity building
Implementation of the Project/Activity

To date, PacMAB network is composed of eleven Pacific countries with new countries recently involved and participants coming from Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Niue, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga. The 4th PacMAB meeting demonstrated that once more Pacific Small Islands have many opportunities to seize to build pragmatic and long term partnership. Through the statement adopted by unanimity during the last day of the Conference keynote for the meeting and for PacMAB overall- the participants have notably committed themselves to intensify their efforts in the long term to: - Collaborate actively for the strengthening of the PacMAB;- Renew their effort for the already proposed sites to become Biosphere Reserve while identifying new pilot sites in light of the outcomes of discussions held during the Conference;- Promote actively the concept of Biosphere Reserve as a significant tool for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Pacific Islands States during the Third International Conference on Small Islands developing States to be held 1-4 September 2014 in Apia.This ambitious set of objectives emphasizes explicitly that the 4th PacMAB meeting was a significant step forward. It has opened the door to long term efforts for positive and concrete changes in the Pacific in the context of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.UNESCO Apia, Office for the Pacific State will provide its full support to the members of PacMAB -among others who may join- for them to tackle the upcoming challenges as well as to translate their commitment into reality.

Capacity

The process of biosphere reserve nomination always depends on awareness raising and consultation with different stakeholders and the community. Moreover, the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) and concept of biosphere reserve is founded on enhancing monitoring, research, training and capacities building in order for people to improve their relationship with the environment while improving and sustaining their livelihood.

Governed

Through the UNESCO MAB Programme, in particular PacMAB focal points

Partners
UNDP, SPREP, IUCN, WWF, Jeju Korea, Pacific SIDS

Goal 14

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 14

14.1

By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

14.1.1

(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

14.2

By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

14.2.1

Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

14.3

Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

14.3.1
Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

14.4

By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

14.4.1
Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

14.5

By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

14.5.1
Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

14.6

By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

14.6.1

Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

14.7

By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

14.7.1

Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

14.a

Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

14.a.1
Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

14.b

Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

14.b.1

Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

14.c

Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

14.c.1

Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

1. Pacific Biosphere Network strengthened (e.g. increase PacMAB focal points , partners, web portal developed and branding)
2. Improved environmental monitoring, research , training and capacity building
3. Nomination of at least two additional Biosphere Reserves in the Polynesia and Melanesia region of the Pacific
Staff / Technical expertise
UNESCO Staff
Financing (in USD)
Recurrent budget and support from partner (e.g. Jeju Korea, Australia)
Title Progress Status Submitted
Partnership Progress 2016-06-21 Off track
False
Action Network
Small Island Developing States
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Timeline
01 January 1970 (date of completion)
Entity
UNESCO
SDGs
14
Region
  1. Asia and Pacific
Countries
Samoa
Samoa
Contact Information

Serena Heckler, Ms.

s.heckler@unesco.org