The Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Hon. Sakiusa Tubuna met with the IUCN Regional Director for Oceania, Mr. Mason Smith and the Regional Director for Asia, Dr. Dindo Campilan, where they discussed issues of mutual interests on multilateral cooperation between Fiji and the IUCN and affirmed the enhanced collaboration and cooperation for our Pacific region.
IUCN Asia Regional Director, Dr. Dindo Campilan congratulated Hon. Tubuna on his new role, and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment with the Fiji Government and the Pacific on issues of importance to global and regional prosperity for the Asia-Oceania hub region.
Hon. Tubuna acknowledges that in the regional maritime, IUCN plays a very critical role in assisting regional countries in the provision of conservation data, assessments and analysis.
The Assistant Minister thanked the IUCN for its continuous support provided to Fiji and the region over the years and stated that Fiji will continue to support regional institutions such as IUCN given their importance and added value to strengthening national capacity and regional solidarity so its members can be equipped with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Discussions at the meeting centered in creating a platform in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples, organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development particularly in climate resilience projects, sustainable agriculture, prioritizing food systems among other important priorities.
Hon. Tubuna also highlighted governments plans in place for the Savusavu Blue Town model and Green villages, which will heighten public-private partnership in the bid to conserve the environment.
The Savusavu Blue Town Model is a town development plan that will merge marine conservation and economic opportunities for island nations and their communities to play a pioneering role in developing a circular blue economy.
Hon. Tubuna stated that the Savusavu Blue Town model will showcase Fiji’s commitment to climate change initiatives to not only reduce carbon emissions, raise climate change awareness (these impacts on our communities and environment), but also implement real and tangible solutions, to preserve and protect our tropical marine biodiversity.
IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.
