Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Training on participatory Three-Dimensional Modelling or P3DM is currently underway this week in the Vava'u islands, Kingdom of Tonga. Coordinated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and delivered by the Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as an activity under the GEFPAS Island Biodiversity Project, the training brings community members and government officials together to develop a three-dimensional model of their island group.
The model will assist greatly with the process for the identification, establishment and management of conservation sites for the Vava'u Island Group as recommended in the Vava'u Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (BIORAP), which was completed in February 2014.
The training was officially opened by the Honourable Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai on Monday.
"I encourage you all, especially our school children to use the opportunity, to fully participate, work together in building the model and to have fun over the course of the training. Once this is completed the Vava'u model will be the best ever."
P3DM is an effective planning and community engagement tool for the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources and has been widely used in most countries including Samoa and other islands of the Pacific.
"The training is an excellent partnership between SPREP, the Government of Tonga, The Government of Samoa and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and could herald the start of longer term arrangement for the delivery of P3DM training throughout the Pacific," said Mr. Vainuupo Jungblut, the Project Technical Expert for the GEFPAS IIB Project.
The training started on Monday 16 November and will end with a ceremony in Neiafu town to unveil the three- Dimensional Model for Vava'u.
GEFPAS is the Global Environment Facility Pacific Alliance for Sustainability. The GEF is a financial mechanism and has become an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector to address global environmental issues.
The model will assist greatly with the process for the identification, establishment and management of conservation sites for the Vava'u Island Group as recommended in the Vava'u Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (BIORAP), which was completed in February 2014.
The training was officially opened by the Honourable Governor of Vava'u, Lord Fulivai on Monday.
"I encourage you all, especially our school children to use the opportunity, to fully participate, work together in building the model and to have fun over the course of the training. Once this is completed the Vava'u model will be the best ever."
P3DM is an effective planning and community engagement tool for the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources and has been widely used in most countries including Samoa and other islands of the Pacific.
"The training is an excellent partnership between SPREP, the Government of Tonga, The Government of Samoa and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and could herald the start of longer term arrangement for the delivery of P3DM training throughout the Pacific," said Mr. Vainuupo Jungblut, the Project Technical Expert for the GEFPAS IIB Project.
The training started on Monday 16 November and will end with a ceremony in Neiafu town to unveil the three- Dimensional Model for Vava'u.
GEFPAS is the Global Environment Facility Pacific Alliance for Sustainability. The GEF is a financial mechanism and has become an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector to address global environmental issues.