The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is holding its Oceania regional conservation forum in Suva this week. Co-organized with the Fijian Government, the conference aims to gather, share, and celebrate conservation successes while outlining future directions.
Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica expressed Fiji’s pleasure in hosting the forum, highlighting its importance as a platform for discussing crucial issues relevant to Pacific communities.
IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar stated that IUCN stands as a strong advocate for the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. She emphasized the significance of promoting world-class science and integrating traditional knowledge from Indigenous peoples, which is amplified by the collective support of IUCN members.
Dr. Aguilar pointed out that the Pacific region is the largest for IUCN in terms of geography. By co-hosting the forum, the Fijian Government aims to enhance its efforts in conserving natural resources and protecting biodiversity.
Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica noted that Fiji continues to push forward with initiatives for environmentally sustainable development, highlighting several successful home-grown solutions. However, he acknowledged ongoing struggles with securing stable, sufficient, and timely funding necessary for scaling these solutions. He remarked that such financial challenges are common among many Pacific Island nations, largely due to their small administrative capacities and the complexities inherent in financial mechanisms.
The forum is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.