Conservationists in the Polynesia-Micronesia region urge greater community engagement, government support, and new funding approaches to build on the knowledge.
Invasive species removal from critical habitats and the implementation of community based bio-security programs were among the positive biodiversity conservation results achieved in Polynesia-Micronesia through a $7 million, five-year investment from the CEPF.
At a recent workshop marking the completion of that investment, participants called for donors, governments and local communities to help nongovernmental organizations build on these achievements and defend the region’s unique natural resources from threats such as climate change and invasive species.
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti was the recipient of five grants from the CEPF over the five year period:
- Fiji Petrel Project
- Taveuni National Park Project
- American Iguana Emergency Response Project
- Search for the Red-throated Lorikeet Project
- Fiji Flying Fox Project
The CEPF projects have been extremely important to NFMV but not just as a source of funding. NFMV received significant CEPF funding during a transitional period as NFMV moved from ‘developing’ status to ‘established’ status. Most of NFMV’s administrative and financial systems put in place during this period were completely independent of CEPF. However, the CEPF projects were crucial in firstly providing a benchmark for the systems to be established against, and secondly in providing an external administrive framework with which the young staff/administration had to comply. This has been excellent ‘hands on’ training for all of us.
We all in NatureFiji-MareqetiViti express our appreciation and gratitude to the CEPF and look forward to regional donors emulating the CEPF initiative and approach.
Emergency Response to the American Iguana – an important first step in its eradication and funded by CEPF
This Link leads to the “Statement” that came out from all Civil Society Groups at the meeting, reflecting a unified voice from conservationist groups and communities in the Polynesia-Micronesia region on the need to support biodiversity conservation action on the ground to ensure that sustainable management of natural resources are secured for the benefit of Pacific communities.
