The 9th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas will be guided by 6 main objectives:
1. Review the Action Strategy 2008-2012 and formulate a new Action Strategy for 2013-2018
- Assess progress in implementing the Principles of the Action Strategy for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in the Pacific Islands Region 2008-2012.
- Discuss and agree on priorities for the Action Strategy for Nature Conservation for 2013 – 2018, taking into account the potential to strengthen its relationship to implementation of EbA to climate change in the region, and also for helping countries to meet the Aichi Targets[2].
- Identify and agree on specific key priority issues for the next 5-year period including innovative, practical and cost effective ways to address these issues.
- Identify and agree on specific action to promote and implement natural solutions to climate change adaptation.
2. Promote natural solutions to address impacts of climate change
- Review status of current ecosystem-based initiatives for climate change adaptation in the Pacific.
- Identify how such initiatives can be strengthened and more effectively applied as adaptation solutions to impacts of climate change.
3. Review National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)• Assess progress in the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.
- Identify priority areas to be considered in the NBSAP review process.
- Provide a synthesis of the new priority targets for NBSAPs which will provide guidance and input to the setting of targets and priorities for the new Action Strategy for Nature Conservation.
4. CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) and Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity (PoWIB)
- Assess progress in the implementation of the CBD PoWPA and PoWIB.
- Discuss and agree on ways to improve the implementation of these CBD programmes of work as a means for countries to meet the Aichi Targets.
5. Capacity Building, Knowledge Management and Learning
- Identify capacity needs and opportunities to advance conservation efforts in the Pacific.
- Identify and develop mechanisms to deliver capacity development initiatives such as the South-South Cooperation modality.
6. Investigate and secure sustainable funding initiatives and create a framework for robust governance around nature conservation work
- Investigate and discuss sustainable funding initiatives for long-term investment in nature conservation work within the Pacific region.
- Obtain support for long-term funding initiatives to achieve international, regional and national nature conservation and biodiversity targets.
- Hold a high level segment meeting with SPREP member countries and territories to discuss governance issues around nature conservation work.
- Obtain a commitment from SPREP member country and territory governments to endorse a framework and action plan to achieve greater returns on their investments in sustainable development and nature conservation.