PIELA Categories
PIELAs were awarded for outstanding achievement in the following thematic areas related to environmental sustainability in the 22 Pacific island countries and territories within the SPREP mandate:
- Biodiversity conservation - achievements in protecting terrestrial and marine species and ecosystems, establishing and managing protected areas, linkages to sustainable livelihoods
- Environmental governance - achievements relating to establishment and implementation of national laws and policies, regional frameworks, and community-based management initiatives for all environmental issues
- Climate change adaptation - innovative solutions for ecosystem-based adaptation at community, sub-national and national levels
For the inaugural awards, the award categories were:
- PIELA for excellence in national leadership in environmental sustainability and conservation
- PIELA for excellence in community leadership in environmental sustainability and conservation
- Champion of the Pacific Environment - eligible from any category but considered by the Award Panel to be the outstanding nominee for the current award period
- PIELA lifetime achievement for excellence in Pacific environmental leadership
Awards categories that will be added after the inaugural awards cycle will include:
- PIELA for excellence in leadership and innovation in environmental media
- PIELA for excellence in implementing ecosystem approaches to climate change adaptation
- PIELA for excellence in environmental and related social science and innovation