Pacific prepares plan of action at international biodiversity conference

7 October 2012, CBD COP 11, Hyderabad, India - Pacific delegates attending the 11^th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity met in Hyderabad, India to prepare for the coming two weeks of negotiations.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development and was signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.  It has three key objectives - conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

The Pacific meeting was to strategise the plan of action to address the agenda items of common interest, with a united approach, some of which include the Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, and Financial Mechanisms.

L - R Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu Kiribati, Ratita Bebe Kiribati, Sarah Tawaka Fiji

"It is crucial for Pacific Islands to really work together, considering the crucial items of pertinence to our islands and people within our region, which will be discussed in this global CBD level,” said Ms. Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu, the Acting Director of Environment and Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture.

“Teamwork, coordination, communication but above all, commitment; is key to effective participation of Pacific Island Country delegates, this will ensure that the global process will have positive impacts at our regional and national levels in the terms of meeting the three objectives of the CBD”

The Pacific delegates will also be working with the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the CBD COP 11, with preparation and input into a statement at the opening meeting to be read by Kiribati on behalf of the SIDS.

This meeting is the first of many to come.  The Pacific delegates will be meeting in the mornings on a regular basis during the conference, and also hope to meet with other Small Islands Developing States to prepare each day before joining the Asia Pacific morning briefings.

L - R Asterio Appi Nauru, Warwick Harris Marshall Islands, Stuart Chape SPREP, Easter Galuvao SPREP

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is providing technical, coordination and communications support at the CBD COP 11 to Pacific delegates.

Attending the first Pacific preparatory meeting were delegates from Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Nauru, other Pacific delegates are still en route to India.