Island Nations Commit to Protect Their Futures

Communities, NGOs Applaud Leaders for Setting Significant Conservation Goals

Curitiba, Brazil—March 29, 2006—Leaders from island nations around the world joined together last night during the Eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to announce significant conservation commitments to protect the future of islands. The President of Palau, H.E. Tommy Remengesau, Jr. hosted the event, and with the support of leaders across Micronesia announced the Micronesia Challenge: to protect 30 percent of near-shore marine and 20 percent of terrestrial resources on islands by 2020.

Inspired by its Micronesian counterparts in the Pacific, the Caribbean nation of Grenada pledged to put 25 percent of near-shore marine and 25 percent of terrestrial resources under effective conservation by 2020. The Declaration, approved by Grenada’s Cabinet, will lead to a nine-fold increase in the total area of protection in Grenada’s marine environment and more than double protection of its terrestrial environment.

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Turtle tracks on Bird Island, Pohnpei, Micronesia: © Jez O'Hare Islands are home to more than 500 million people and represent one quarter of the nations of the world, 16 percent of the planet’s known plant species and more than half of the world’s tropical marine biodiversity. Thirty percent of the world’s coral reefs are severely damaged and, without immediate action 60 percent may be lost by 2030. Half of the species in the world that have become extinct have been island species. Without immediate action, islands face continued damage to species, biodiversity and human inhabitants’ way of life.

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"We intend to be the first in the world to meet our CBD 10 percent target, and more,” said President Remengesau, referring to the goal adopted by parties to the Convention to effectively conserve at least 10 percent of each of the world's ecological regions. He emphasized that Palau is able to make this commitment because of the strong partnerships within Palau, between the National and State governments, and with traditional leaders and local communities. “We have come to Curitiba for partnerships, at every level, that will strengthen our region's and our respective islands’ capacity to meet our conservation commitments."

“Efforts to ensure the health, prosperity and cultural heritage of nations are unlikely to succeed if the ecosystem services on which we rely continue to be degraded,” said Minister Ann David-Antoine from Grenada’s Ministry of the Environment. “Expanding conservation efforts and achieving them through partnerships with the international conservation community and across all regions are required for our sustainable development.”

These commitments contribute to global targets such as those set forth at the World Summit on Sustainable Development and in the Millennium Development Goals, and recognize the vital importance of conservation and sustainable use of island biodiversity to the livelihoods of island communities.

"For the islands this is a new dimension on how to preserve our fragile reserves for future generations. Our traditional way of conserving has been reawakened through this global concern to protect our fragile resources," said Ratu Aisea Katonivere, Chief of the Macuata community in Fiji, a province of 100,000 people, and home of the world’s third largest barrier reef. “For us, in Fiji, this is about our survival. Our life."

The announcements by Micronesia and Grenada generated enthusiastic responses, including new conservation commitments and actions from New Zealand, Indonesia, Kiribati and others.

The NGO community also responded, promising to provide technical and financial support to help islands meet their commitments. “Islands provide a unique opportunity to expand conservation through global collaboration. To continue the momentum from tonight’s inspiring announcements will require coordination from governments, NGOs, local communities and donor countries to work together for the long-term conservation of these global treasures,” said Nigel Purvis, The Nature Conservancy’s Vice President for External Affairs.

“The Pacific is home to the most vulnerable islands in the world. It’s a great challenge to have a program that aims for the survival of its rich biodiversity and the fascinating cultures of its people across Oceania,” said Francois Martel, Director of the Pacific Island Program for Conservation International (CI). “Conservation in this region is all about people and their traditional stewardship,” he added.

James Leape, Director General of WWF International, said: "WWF applauds the leadership shown by these governments to address the escalating threats facing the world's coral reefs and island habitats, and urges nations everywhere to support these significant commitments, as their success or failure will have global ramifications."

“Many of the World Conservation Union’s government and NGO members are eager to step up conservation efforts in islands, whose extremely threatened biodiversity is the basis for the livelihoods of millions of people,” said Martha Chouchena-Rojas, Head of the delegation for the World Conservation Union (IUCN). “The launch of this new island partnership, in combination with the adoption of the CBD Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity, will certainly help to lift our game.”

The Micronesia Challenge is a shared commitment by the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam. Grenada’s 2020 vision is an outgrowth of the successful Grenadines Parks in Peril project, a TNC/USAID partnership that has advanced implementation of key actions within the CBD’s Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

The event was co-sponsored by the Governments of Italy and the United Kingdom, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), The Nature Conservancy, WWF, Conservation International, International Coral Reef Action Network, Palau Conservation Society, Conservation Society of Pohnpei, Micronesian Conservation Trust, IUCN, Birdlife International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Island leaders gathered this week to address island biodiversity at the Eighth Conference of the Parties. The CBD is expected to adopt a Programme of Work that will lay out guidance for island nations and nations with islands for integrated conservation and management of their vital natural resources.