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HONOLULU (Sept. 23, 2022) – The East-West Center, in partnership with the Government of Palau, The Pacific Community (SPC), the Global Environment Facility, the Nature Conservancy, the US Office of Insular Affairs, and the US Forest Service, is co-hosting the first Pacific Ecological Security Conference from October 3rd to 5th in Koror, Palau to discuss a coordinated region-wide response against invasive species that threaten ecosystem sustainability, food security, and climate resilience across the Pacific Islands.
Island leaders, development partners, regional organizations, agricultural and natural resource managers, researchers, and the media will convene to raise visibility on the issues, assess high priority needs, develop Strategic Action Plans, and identify necessary actions by individual governments and partners for implementation.
These plans will allow the region to mobilize new sources of international financial support, partnership, and technical expertise to support island resilience.
“Invasive species are a critical challenge for island societies as they threaten our unique and fragile landscapes and biodiversity, our resilience to climate change, agricultural practices, and food security,” said Dr. Laura Brewington, Research Fellow at the East-West Center, “The growing prevalence of invasive species is not just an environmental threat, but an economic one that jeopardizes our livelihoods and sustainable development agenda.”
Key discussion topics include:
- invasive species
- resilience to climate change
- food security
- biodiversity
- quality of life
- long-term island sustainability
Keynote speakers include Palau Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior and Honorable Minister Steven Victor of the Palau Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment. View the list of featured speakers on the conference website.
“This space is critical to foster regional dialogue at a time when all Pacific Island Nations are facing the threat of invasive species,” said Karen Mapusua, Land Resources Division Director at The Pacific Community, “The Pacific Community is already working closely with our member countries across different sectors to control, prevent, and eradicate invasive species and will continue this commitment through engaging with this conference as a contribution towards strengthening our regional response and discuss strategic action and solutions which contributes to protecting the vibrant biodiversity of our Pacific Islands and the overall food and nutrition security of the region.”
“The East-West Center is committed to ecological security as well as fostering environmental solutions,” said East-West Center President Suzanne Vares-Lum. “As an institution seeking to amplify Pacific voices and bring together diverse Pacific Islands expertise to address critical regional challenges, we are delighted to co-host this first-ever Pacific Ecological Security Conference.”
Conference participation is invitation-only. Recordings of the plenary sessions will be available for public viewing after the conference. Visit Pacific RISA for more information.
About the East-West Center:
The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the US Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options.
About The Pacific Community:
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, proudly supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members.
HONOLULU (Sept. 23, 2022) – The East-West Center, in partnership with the Government of Palau, The Pacific Community (SPC), the Global Environment Facility, the Nature Conservancy, the US Office of Insular Affairs, and the US Forest Service, is co-hosting the first Pacific Ecological Security Conference from October 3rd to 5th in Koror, Palau to discuss a coordinated region-wide response against invasive species that threaten ecosystem sustainability, food security, and climate resilience across the Pacific Islands.
Island leaders, development partners, regional organizations, agricultural and natural resource managers, researchers, and the media will convene to raise visibility on the issues, assess high priority needs, develop Strategic Action Plans, and identify necessary actions by individual governments and partners for implementation.
These plans will allow the region to mobilize new sources of international financial support, partnership, and technical expertise to support island resilience.
“Invasive species are a critical challenge for island societies as they threaten our unique and fragile landscapes and biodiversity, our resilience to climate change, agricultural practices, and food security,” said Dr. Laura Brewington, Research Fellow at the East-West Center, “The growing prevalence of invasive species is not just an environmental threat, but an economic one that jeopardizes our livelihoods and sustainable development agenda.”
Key discussion topics include:
- invasive species
- resilience to climate change
- food security
- biodiversity
- quality of life
- long-term island sustainability
Keynote speakers include Palau Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior and Honorable Minister Steven Victor of the Palau Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment. View the list of featured speakers on the conference website.
“This space is critical to foster regional dialogue at a time when all Pacific Island Nations are facing the threat of invasive species,” said Karen Mapusua, Land Resources Division Director at The Pacific Community, “The Pacific Community is already working closely with our member countries across different sectors to control, prevent, and eradicate invasive species and will continue this commitment through engaging with this conference as a contribution towards strengthening our regional response and discuss strategic action and solutions which contributes to protecting the vibrant biodiversity of our Pacific Islands and the overall food and nutrition security of the region.”
“The East-West Center is committed to ecological security as well as fostering environmental solutions,” said East-West Center President Suzanne Vares-Lum. “As an institution seeking to amplify Pacific voices and bring together diverse Pacific Islands expertise to address critical regional challenges, we are delighted to co-host this first-ever Pacific Ecological Security Conference.”
Conference participation is invitation-only. Recordings of the plenary sessions will be available for public viewing after the conference. Visit Pacific RISA for more information.
About the East-West Center:
The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the US Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options.
About The Pacific Community:
The Pacific Community (SPC) is the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, proudly supporting development since 1947. We are an international development organisation owned and governed by our 27 country and territory members.
