Gatokai Island, Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands

IUCN Washington, D.C. and Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)

 

 IUCN Washington, D.C. is host to the Coordination Unit of the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA). As an important GLISPA partner, IUCN agreed to host GLISPA’s coordination unit and to staff it with a Coordinator. IUCN is a member of the GLISPA Steering Committee and supports the GLISPA Coordination Unit. The GLISPA website is available at www.cbd.int/island/glispa.shtml.

About GLISPA

The Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) assists islands in addressing one of the world’s greatest challenges — to conserve and sustainably utilize the invaluable island natural resources that support people, cultures and livelihoods in their island homes around the world. Recognizing that islands have unique and isolated natural systems and are particularly vulnerable in a rapidly changing world, this Partnership brings together island countries and countries with islands — small and large, developing and developed — to mobilize leadership, increase resources and share solutions in a cost-effective and sustainable way that will catalyze action for conservation and sustainable livelihoods on islands.

GLISPA is recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as a partnership to advance the implementation of the CBD 2010 target to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss and the Programmes of Work on Island Biodiversity (IBPoW) and Protected Areas. GLISPA was created to help bridge local and global initiatives, build upon existing networks and programmes, and share knowledge among all of islands.

Since GLISPA’s formation in 2005, countries, territories, agencies, organizations and leaders at all levels have made inspiring commitments and taken actions to protect island habitats around the world. Each commitment acts as a beacon to others, offering hope for success and help along the way. All leaders and groups committed to taking significant action to sustain livelihoods, conserve nature and address global change on islands are encouraged to join or participate in the Global Island Partnership.

Up to 2012, GLISPA will be supported by a collaborative Strategy, a small dedicated Coordination Team hosted by IUCN and a Steering Committee of lead partners to support the growing Partnership. GLISPA’s focus for the next three years sees it continuing to work with island leaders and organizations on strategic initiatives to strengthen island action on critical issues, including:

  • Supporting leadership and commitments to action on ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation including the threat of invasive species.
  • Integrating island conservation and sustainable livelihoods into the development dialogue.
  • Supporting current GLISPA initiatives to promote successes and lessons including through exchanges and sharing of effective practices.
  • Supporting the Seychelles with the emerging Western Indian Ocean Challenge—focused on adaptation.
  • The Global Island Partnership is committed to continue supporting the outstanding leadership and extraordinary commitments of all its dedicated participants, and to sharing island successes and lessons with the world. 

IUCN’s Islands Initiative

The GLISPA Coordination Unit works closely with IUCN's Islands Initiative based with the Ecosystem Management Programme in IUCN HQ in Gland, Switzerland. For more information on the Islands Initiative please contact Olivier Tyack, Programme Officer, Islands at olivier.tyack@iucn.org and for more information on the Islands Initiative please click here.

The scope of IUCN’s Islands Initiative is those islands, whether large or small, whose conservation and ecosystem management challenges are substantially shaped by “island” characteristics, including high levels of species diversity and endemism, openness of coastal ecosystems to land-based impacts, competition by people for limited resources including land and fresh water, and vulnerability to external forces, both natural and human-induced. The Initiative is thus not solely focused on Small Island Developing States, but looks more broadly at the qualities and issues that islands share regardless of their size or political status.
 

Island News

 

Rock Islands - Palau

Meeting on Islands challenges at the European Parliament to take place on May 7th, 2013

Islands – key actors: What kind of partnership at the EU level?

Meeting jointly hosted by the European Parliament intergroup on Biodiversity and Climate change and prepared by the IUCN on EU Overseas Programme, the  Marine and Polar Programme (GMPP) in close collaboration with the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) 

18 Apr 2013 | News story

Lionfish swimming around the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Australia creates world’s largest network of marine reserves

In November 2012 the Australian Government announced the creation of the world’s largest network of marine reserves. The government proclaimed 44 marine reserves a network, covering 2.3 million square kilometres, a full third of Australia’s ocean territory. The reserves are home to 45 of the world’s 78 whale and dolphin species, six of the seven known species of marine turtle, and 4,000 fish species. The government received support from over 500,000 Australians, who commented positively on the creation of the network. …  

13 Dec 2012 | News story

Guadalupe

Marine biodiversity conservation in Europe overseas

Many of the 30+ overseas territories of the European Union are islands and much of their biodiversity occurs in the seas and the oceans surrounding them. A recent workshop under the European Parliament Intergroup on “Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development” organized jointly with IUCN addressed the challenges of Europe overseas in protecting their marine biodiversity.   …  

10 Dec 2012 | News story
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GLISPA Images
  • Banaba (Ocean Island). A raised phosphatic limestone island, abandoned after mining. Now 800 inhabitants.

    Banaba (Ocean Island). A raised phosphatic limestone island, abandoned after mining. Now 800 inhabitants.

    Photo: Randy Thaman

  • Moorea, French Polynesia

    Moorea, French Polynesia

    Photo: Randy Thaman

  • Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati

    Tarawa Atoll, Kiribati

    Photo: Randy Thaman

  • Aldabran giant tortoise on Ile aux Aigresstes, Mauritius

    Aldabran giant tortoise on Ile aux Aigresstes, Mauritius

    Photo: Randy Thaman

  • Members of the Adhoc Technical Experts Group on Island Biodiversity on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain in 2004. GLISPA is a mechanism to implement the Island Biodiversity Programme of Work.

    Members of the Adhoc Technical Experts Group on Island Biodiversity on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain in 2004. GLISPA is a mechanism to implement the Island Biodiversity Programme of Work.

    Photo: Kate Brown

  • Fagaloa Bay, Upolu Island, Samoa

    Fagaloa Bay, Upolu Island, Samoa

    Photo: Randy Thaman

  • Okinawa, Japan

    Okinawa, Japan

    Photo: Randy Thaman

  • Mauritius

    Mauritius

    Photo: Randy Thaman