Celebrating conservation milestones

18 June 2018, 12:00AM

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.) celebrated their respective anniversaries last week.

It happened during the welcoming event for the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (B.I.O.P.A.M.A.) programme regional inception workshop with a cake cutting ceremony at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

Speaking at the event, Director General S.P.R.E.P., Leota Kosi Latu recognised the 25 years of S.P.R.E.P’s operation in the Pacific region as an independent regional organisation. 

“We are here to commemorate 25 years of working together in protecting and improving our Pacific environment with the common goal of ensuring sustainable development for present and future generations,” he said.

While acknowledging all the work carried out in the past 25 years, and indeed the previous 15 years when S.P.R.E.P. was a programme in The Pacific Community, Leota noted that partnerships are essential to getting work done in the Pacific region.

 “The work that we do cannot be possible without the close collaboration of our partners. And tonight, it is about partnership. I.U.C.N. has been a very important partner of S.P.R.E.P. and tonight is a yet another demonstration of that close collaboration,” Leota said.

Sharing the same sentiments, I.U.C.N. Oceania Regional Director Mason Smith acknowledged S.P.R.E.P. for the significant role it played in the Pacific and highlighted a brief history of I.U.C.N. since its establishment in 1948.

 “I.U.C.N. was established in a small French town, south of Paris, called Fontainebleau,” Mr. Smith said. 

“I.U.C.N. is now the global authority on the status of the natural world with 10,000 volunteer scientists around the globe. The knowledge and the tools I.U.C.N. provides are critical for ensuring that human progress, economic development and nature conservation take place together.”

The B.I.O.P.A.M.A. inception workshop was held at Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.

18 June 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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