New agreement set to strengthen conservation and sustainable development efforts in the Pacific

SPC’s Director General, Dr Stuart Minchin highlighted the importance of the agreement and the urgency of the issue for the Pacific saying, “The Pacific Community and IUCN recognize the serious challenges posed by biodiversity loss and climate change in the Pacific, challenges that will take coordinated and complementary action to be overcome. Through this agreement our respective organizations are demonstrating their determination in supporting the future sustainability of this region and its people.”

      Photo: SPC

In 2020, SPC and IUCN engaged in collaboration through Pacific platforms, frameworks and initiatives such as the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT), the 10^th Pacific Island Conference on nature conservation and the Kiwa Initiative. This new MOU further commits and strengthens ties between to the two respective organisations in the coming year.

IUCN Oceania Regional Director Mr Mason Smith called the agreement a milestone for the region and beyond. “There is a need now, more than ever before, for regional and international organizations to collaborate, share resources and technical knowhow when addressing issues that are critical to the survival and resilience of our communities and I look forward to working with our colleagues from SPC in the years ahead.”

The agreement recognises the unique and complementary roles of SPC and IUCN in identifying, developing and carrying out collaborative projects and activities. Specific areas of collaboration, activities and projects will be identified based on geographic, programmatic, and other relevant criteria, with early work focused on strategies to mobilize the international community in the lead-up to the World Conservation Congress, COP 15 and COP 26.