The Pacific islands region covers almost 15% of the world’s surface and is characterised by a high degree of ecosystem and species diversity as well as an extremely high level of endemicity (often over 90% for particular groups). The region has a high degree of economic and cultural dependence on the natural environment, and many conservation and development challenges - for example, rapid population growth often leading to over-harvesting of natural resources; high levels of threats by invasive species in island ecosystems; and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
The Species Programme of the Oceania Regional Office - is concerned with delivering on the organisation’s Strategic Priority number 1: Conserving the diversity of life in the Pacific Islands region by ensuring sustainable and equitable management of biodiversity from in the region.
Through work focussing on three key areas below a number of programmatic sub-results will be delivered.
At present, the key objective of the Oceania Species Programme is the development of a regional (Pacific islands) Red List.
This aims to achieve sub-results OC-1.2.1 - IUCN standards, tools and knowledge for biodiversity assessment and sustainable natural resource management understood and applied within countries and across the region and OC-1.2.1.1 - A Regional IUCN Red List is developed and being used by national government agencies and non-government organizations to influence species management strategies.
A sound knowledge of species found in the region and information on their conservation status and distribution is needed to conserve biodiversity at local, regional and global levels. Governments and decision-makers need reliable and quality information on the status of biodiversity in order to work together to stem the extinction crisis.
The IUCN Red List provides sound and scientifically credible knowledge on taxonomic status, relative risk of extinction and distribution, and therefore assists countries in identifying those species most in need of conservation attention in order to conserve biodiversity. For a region known for its biodiversity hotspots, data and taxonomic expertise are lacking in the Pacific islands. Governments and NGOs have recognised the need for better and more information for conservation work and there is strong support for updating and improving the information in the Red List as a foundation for conservation work in the region.
For more information on creating a Regional Red List for the Pacific islands, please click here
IUCN Oceania currently offers advice to Fiji State Member, the Department of Environment, on CITES implementation in Fiji. Partnerships are being explored with organisations in the region including TRAFFIC Oceania, SPREP and SPC, in order to improve on capacity building efforts and implementation of the Convention in other Pacific island countries.
Funds have been secured from the British High Commission in Fiji to produce a CITES Manual for the Fiji Islands CITES Authorities and Customs Officers. The user-friendly manual will incorporate species ID guides, relevant legislation and information regarding enforcement, in order to assist in the implementation of CITES in Fiji. The manual is being produced in partnership with the Department of Environment, Fiji’s State member of IUCN. It is hoped that the product can be adapted for other Pacific island countries following its completion.
CITES work will help to fulfil the following IUCN Oceania programme goals:
OC-1.1.2 - Effective implementation of biodiversity-related laws, policies and governance systems enhanced in at least one Pacific island country.
OC-1.1.2.1 - IUCN knowledge and experience enhances the implementation of CBD PoWPA, WH and CITES in at least one country.
OC-1.1.2.2 - National capacity to implement environmental compliance and enforcement programs for natural resources management enhanced in at least one country.
IUCN Oceania is developing a partnership with the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)s Regional Office for the Pacific (ROP) in order to deliver an integrated programme of work on regional invasive species issues. IUCN Oceania and ISSG ROP are aiming to work together to implement activities that contribute to the programme of IUCN Oceania and help ISSG achieve its goals for the Pacific region. Activities include raising awareness of invasive species issues, networking between practitioners, communities and experts, and providing reliable invasive species data and information to decision makers for analysis and support tools. The ISSG ROP acts as the IUCN Oceania focal point for invasive species and represents IUCN Oceania at relevant invasive species meetings.
The invasives programme of work will contribute to:
OC-1.2.2: IUCN standards, tools and knowledge contribute to the management of invasive species in the Pacific.
OC-1.2.2.2 - Regional organizations better informed to control and manage invasive species in the Pacific.
