Dr. Grethel Aguilar Rojas, the director general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), emphasized the necessity for immediate measures to protect the natural environment. She is participating in a four-day conference organized by IUCN, titled “Reconnecting, Rebuilding and Rethinking Conservation for Resilient Oceania,” held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva.
Dr. Rojas highlighted the discussions surrounding the critical need for nature conservation and its essential role in addressing climate change. “The Pacific is enduring the impacts of climate change, and communities and governments are vocally demanding urgent action,” she noted. “This is not merely a crisis; it is a matter of survival for the people of the Pacific.”
The conference aims to identify potential solutions and explore the contributions of nature conservation. Dr. Rojas stated that leveraging nature-based solutions could significantly aid in risk reduction efforts needed in Oceania.
A key topic addressed during the discussions was the importance of collaboration with indigenous peoples and local communities. Dr. Rojas emphasized that traditional knowledge holds tremendous value in the region, suggesting that combining this knowledge with scientific insights could yield significant advancements.
“It is crucial for the global community to acknowledge the traditional knowledge found in Oceania, as it has long provided solutions for conserving natural resources to benefit local populations,” she remarked.
The ongoing discussions aim to address future conservation strategies in the region, confront climate change challenges, implement actionable initiatives, and enhance the recognition and support of communities and indigenous peoples to strengthen their efforts against the climate crisis.