By Claire Oiire, PIRT Pacific Biodiversity Coordinator
PIRT members and partners played key roles in a recent series of meetings held in Nadi, Fiji: the Pacific Dialogue on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), followed by a workshop on Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UNEP Technical Workshop on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Early Action Support Project. The meetings were held from 18 - 26 March 2024, and hosted by SPREP in partnership with the CBD Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Government of Fiji as the host country. The events brought together participants from around the Pacific including government representatives and their national, regional, and global partner organisations. A central theme of the meetings was the indispensable role of partner organisations in supporting governments to develop and implement NBSAPs and other biodiversity-related programmes of work. Partner organisations attending these dialogues brought diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives to the table, enriching the NBSAP process and enhancing its effectiveness.
Such events are crucial for partner organisations to actively participate as they often possess specialised knowledge and experience in various aspects of biodiversity conservation including ecological research, community engagement and policy advocacy. Their presence at the NBSAP Dialogue enhanced the facilitation of knowledge exchange, providing valuable insights and best practices that inform NBSAP development and implementation. Sharing their experiences helps ensure that strategies are scientifically based, contextualised, and aligned with global conservation targets.
As part of the Pacific NBSAP Dialogue, PIRT member organisations were given the opportunity to outline their areas of expertise relating to NBSAP revision and how they can assist Pacific governments in this task.
The event represented a significant opportunity for PIRT partner organisations to listen and learn from Pacific governments, to hear areas where they need support and training programs, workshops, and technical assistance they can use to equip stakeholders with the necessary tools to effectively review their NBSAPs and then execute the conservation actions outlined. Such capacity building opportunities can foster ownership, enhance institutional capability, and promote long-term sustainability of conservation efforts.
Throughout the discussions it was evident that financing biodiversity conservation initiatives is still a persisting challenge for many countries. Partner organisations are important in mobilising resources and leveraging funding opportunities to support NBSAPs. One of their key roles is facilitating access to grants, philanthropy support and international funding mechanisms, helping bridge the financial gap and ensure adequate resources for priority actions outlined in NBSAPs.
The event in Nadi underscores the pivotal role that PIRT members and partners play to support governments in advancing the objectives and the implementation of NBSAPs towards effective conservation efforts. The urgency and scale of work that governments and other stakeholders need to undertake to conserve and protect biodiversity means that partnerships are critical. Partnerships such as PIRT play a multifaceted and indispensable role by leveraging expertise, fostering collaboration, mobilising resources, and supporting capacity building, which contributes significantly to the conservation and sustainable use of resources at national and global levels. As countries strive to meet their biodiversity targets and address emerging challenges, the active engagement of partner organisations will remain essential for achieving meaningful and lasting impacts.
