Suva, Fiji - The ecosystems of the Pacific are essential to the region’s environmental health, economic sustainability, and cultural heritage. To strengthen biodiversity conservation and align with national development priorities, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, in collaboration with environmental agencies from Fiji, Nauru, and Tonga, has launched the “Responding to Pacific Priorities for Ecosystem Management and NBSAP Implementation” project. Supported by the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) Project Preparation Grant (PPG), this initiative will enhance biodiversity planning, monitoring, and policy integration across the region.

The inception meeting brought together government officials, UNDP specialists, and international consultants, laying the foundation for a four-year project supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for North Pacific Office Kevin Petrini set the tone for the discussions by emphasizing the urgent need to safeguard the Pacific’s rich biodiversity: “Our region’s ecosystems are among the most diverse in the world,” he remarked. “Strengthening governance and conservation efforts is critical to maintaining biodiversity while supporting national development objectives.”

The meeting was led by UNDP Team Leader for Resilience and Climate Change (RCC), Merewalesi Laveti, emphasizing on the three pillars of sustainable development that provide a balanced and holistic approach that integrates economic, social, and environmental considerations outlined the project’s three foundational pillars of sustainability—governance and policy integration, sustainable financing, and knowledge management.

The mission team comprises of environmental; gender and social safeguards will be supporting the countries to ensure the project will also adopt a context-specific approach in recognition of the distinct national priorities and environmental challenges of each country.

In Fiji, efforts will support Indigenous coastal communities (iQoliqolis) by promoting sustainable fisheries management and strengthening ecosystem monitoring, while in Nauru, the focus will be on eradicating invasive alien species to protect national food security and agricultural resilience. In Tonga, the project will support the implementation of ecosystem valuation as a tool for decision-making, ensuring that conservation and economic development strategies are aligned.

Tonga representative Dr. Fononga Vainga Mangisi-Mafileo emphasized the importance of leveraging lessons learnt from past initiatives to enhance sustainability and align economic and environmental goals. “This initiative builds on insights gained from previous projects, such as Ridge to Reef, by adopting a holistic approach that balances conservation with development priorities,” she reflected.

Newly appointed Director of Environment, Senivasa Waqairamasi, echoed this perspective, adding, “This project is an opportunity to scale up, add value to existing efforts, and make more effective use of financial resources.”

While national biodiversity initiatives have made progress toward meeting the ambitious aims of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)—which sets out 23 targets for 2030—this project provides a critical opportunity to build upon current conservation plans, address remaining gaps, and strengthen long-term environmental resilience in the Pacific.

“Good consultation is key,” asserted Nauru’s Director of Environment, Bryan Star. “We want to ensure that our approach is aligned with existing efforts, leverages available financing, and strengthens national coordination on biodiversity conservation.”

Following the successful launch of the inception meeting, the project will move into its next phase, focusing on stakeholder consultations and submitting a project proposal to the GEF Secretariat.

By aligning biodiversity conservation with national priorities and strengthening institutional frameworks, this initiative represents a significant step towards building resilient ecosystems that preserve biodiversity, sustain livelihoods, and advance the Pacific region’s Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information please contact:

Neema Nand, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, RCC Programme Analyst, neema.nand@undp.org