Petero Qaloibau the acting Chairman for the Sisi Initiative Site Support Group (SSG) attended the SIDS conference which was recently held in Apia Samo
Prior to the conference Mr Qaloibau was also part of a Regional capacity building workshop for the Pacific region on traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The workshop was organized by the World Indigenous Network for land and sea managers (WIN) and was attended by participants from Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Japan, Fiji, New Zealand and was facilitated by the Secretariat of the CBD.
The workshop was a great opportunity for the participants to learn and understand the importance of Article 8j under the CBD and provide a refresher on the important role of indigenous local communities in conservation.
Mr Qaloibau also presented on the lessons learned from setting up the NFMV-assisted Community Conserved Area project in the Natewa Tunuloa Important Bird Area (IBA).
The three day workshop was also an opportune time to learn from other participants across the Pacific on the work they are doing as indigenous resource owners.
The SIDS Conference was a great experience for Mr Qaloibau as he was part of the Pacific Indigenous Caucus to identify and review the draft outcome document of the Samoa Pathway. Mr Qaloibau was then fortunate to have been selected from the group to present on behalf of the Indigenous people at the main plenary meeting.
Networking and building partnerships are important to ensure the Pacific remains intact and rich in biodiversity as well as to ensure indigenous local communities needs are not compromised in the face of development.
