By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Koror — Effective management, eradication and prevention of invasive species in the Pacific islands region require a robust, coordinated, and collaborative regional approach.
This was the resounding message and commitment made by over 100 representatives from across the Pacific region at the inaugural Pacific Ecological Security Conference that took place from Oct. 3 to 5 in Palau.
The conference was hosted by Palau, the East-West Center, The Pacific Community, the Global Environment Facility, the Nature Conservancy, the US Office of Insular Affairs, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Biosecurity experts, development partners, regional organizations, agricultural and natural resource managers, researchers, government and national ministers came together to identify and discuss how to address the critical threat of invasive species.
Dr. Laura Brewington, a research fellow at the East-West Center, the conference reminded Pacific leaders that invasive species impact every aspect of Pacific island life and security.
"While we have many of the tools we need for their prevention, control, and eradication, we also recognize that no country can do it alone," Brewington said.
"This has given us the opportunity to align regional strategies and build off our successes to tackle the problem of invasive species in a comprehensive way across our whole Blue Pacific Continent,” she added.
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Strategic action plans developed by expert working groups on coconut rhinoceros beetles, invasive ants, and biological control approaches were presented and discussed during the three-day conference. Participants endorsed the action plans and committed to further coordination to address these key priorities.
“The Pacific is made up of small island fragile ecosystems and is home to some of the richest biodiversity in the world, which is now being threatened by invasive species. Now more than ever, addressing invasive species should be at the forefront of our priorities and this meeting was a positive step forward to jointly ensure there is a strong regional coordinated approach to these critical threats,” said Gibson Susumu, The Pacific Community (SPC) Programme Leader for Sustainable Agriculture.
“It’s important to recognize the vulnerabilities of our region and how invasive species exacerbate existing issues,” Susumu said.
Noting that the Pacific is at the frontline of the climate crisis, Susumu said invasive species further undermine the resilience of the region's ecosystems.
"SPC is already working closely with our members and will continue this commitment to address these key concerns. This conference has provided a great opportunity to explore and strengthen partnerships to collaborate further," he added.
Participants shared stories from across the region about the multi-faceted and devastating impact of invasive species on the Pacific. The loss of endemic and vital plants and trees, such as the coconut tree, has deep cultural significance to the people of the Pacific Islands, whose identities and livelihoods are often tied closely to their land and seas.
From their experiences, participants were also able to share strategies for successfully controlling and eradicating invasive species.
Conference participants represented more than 16 Pacific countries and territories, including Australia, New Zealand, and development partners from Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. (East-West Center)
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