The University of the South Pacific, Blue-Green Education for Sustainable Island and

Ocean Development

CBD Capacity-building Workshop for the Pacific on Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration

The University of the South Pacific Suva, Fiji, 25-29 November

1

Randy ThamanProfessor of Pacific Islands Biogeography,

The University of the South PacificSuva, Fiji

The University of the South Pacific

• Unique Regional University established in 1968

• 12 Member Countries — Cook Is. • 12 Member Countries — Cook Is. Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Nauru, Samoa,Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Vanuatu

Is a committed to facilitating this marriage by the continued provision of quality higher education and research for the future human resource needs and sustainable development priorities of its 12 island member countries

USP - A Regional University of Excellence and

Centre for Education for Sustainable (Island and Ocean) Development

priorities of its 12 island member countries and communities.

The University of the South Pacific

Micronesia

MelanesiaPolynesia

Serving the: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

Polynesia

The USP Region

• Thousands of islands, spread over 33 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean

• 2.2 Million People

• One Third of the World’s Languages

• Hundreds of Distinct Cultures

MARSHALL ISLANDS (34 Atolls)

REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI (32 Atolls + Banaba)

Banaba

KIRITIMATI ATOLL, KIRIBATI (364 km2)

NAURU (1 Phosphatic Limestone Island)

TUVALU (9 Atolls)

TOKELAU (3 Atolls)

COOK ISLANDS (15? High and Atoll Is.)

NIUE (1 Raised Limestone Island)

Photos – Mosmi Bhim

KINGDOM OF TONGA (169 Mostly Limestone Is.)

SAMOA (4 Main Volcanic Islands)

FIJI ISLANDS (369 Big and Small Is.)

VANUATU (Many Large and Small Is.)

SOLOMON ISLANDS (Many Big and Small Is.)

GOOD MORNING, A VERY WARM WELCOME AND BEST WISHES FOR BEST WISHES FOR STRENGTHENING OUR ABILITY TO CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE ISLAND BIODIVERSITY

The University of the South Pacific

• Premier provider of tertiary education in the Pacific Region

• International centre of excellence for teaching and research on all aspects of Pacific Island culture, science and environmentenvironment

• Three campuses - Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa

• 14 Additional Centres and Sub-centres in 12 member countries most with satellites links and potential for significant e-learning

The University of the South Pacific

• Great pressure to meet urgent human resource development needs of developing island states

•Great pressure to produce graduates who understand and promote the principles of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable island and ocean development.

The University of the South Pacific

• Three Faculties- Science, Technology and Environment-Law, Arts and Humanities-Business and Economics

• Many sustainable development-related programs (Environmental Science/Studies, Ocean Resources Management, Land Management, Tourism Studies, Governance)

USP at a glance

• Over 20,000 part- and fulltime students in 2008

• 52 percent are females

• 60+ percent of students study by distance mode

• Enrolment growth 10 percent per annum

• Great pressure to ensure increased access to education (“reaching the unreached”)

• Sensitivity to decentralization andimportance of distance education / Internet / on-line courses / video broadcast of lectures

USP Campus Facilities

USP Laucala, Fiji Campus USP Main LibraryUSP Laucala, Fiji Campus USP Main Library

Marine Studies Centre, Fiji

USP Centre, NIue

USPNetEstablished and maintained with Japanese Financial and Technical Technical Assistance

Japan-Pacific ITC Centre• FJ$30 million centre as a hub for e-

education, e-commerce, e-governance, and ICT research and development.

• Student labs (600+ computers), GIS labs, video-conference facilities, a 1,000-seat lecture theatre, a business incubator, and a performing/cultural arts space, all with USPNet broadcast connection.USPNet broadcast connection.

Commitment to Overcoming

the Tyranny of Distance

USP is committed to providing users with faster access to Internet services to increase the efficiency of research, teaching and learning in various flexible learning and teaching modes and environments.

LONG-ESTABLISHED CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT-RELATED PROGRAMMES OF STUDY

• Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters and Ph.Ds in Environmental Science and Studies, Marine Science, Biology, Geography and Earth Sciences

• BSc and BA Environmental Science/Studies

• BSc and BA Marine Science/Studies/Affairs

• Certificate, Diploma, Bachelors and PhD programs in Land Management and Development

***

NEW CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT-RELATED PROGRAMS OF STUDY

• Postgraduate Diploma and Degrees in Climate change and Adaptation (courses being administered by Tony Weir currently) - centered in PACE. Taught Climate Change and Adaptation Postgraduate course offered in 2009.Postgraduate course offered in 2009.

• Postgraduate Diploma and Degrees in Nature Conservation and Protected Areas.

Certificate, Diploma, Degree and Postgraduate with Significant Environmental Content

• Land Management and Planning

• Geography

• Geographical Information Systems

• Education

• Biology, Physics and Chemistry• Biology, Physics and Chemistry

• Marine Studies

• Agriculture

• Tourism Studies

• Land Management and Planning

• Law

• BEd in Journalism with Environmental Emphasis

STUDIES AT USP (Emphasis on Communities and Fieldwork)

STUDIES AT USP

TEACHING AT USP

USP Graduation – Capacity Building for Sustainable Island Development

OUR PI GRADUATES – FOUNDATION FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF

OUR ISLAND BIODIVERSITY

USP EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

SIDS EducationExperts MeetingV & A Training CourseExperts Meeting RegionalBPoA Meeting

Opening Pacific Regional Initiative on the Development of Basic Education(PRIDE)

Ecotourism Training

PI Community-basedConservation Course

V & A Training Course

Major Resource for Conservation - An Army of Students and Graduates!!!

USP and REGIONAL MEETINGS

SIDS Education

Regional BPoA Meeting

SIDS EducationExperts Meeting

NBSAP – Roundtable on NatureConservation Combined Meeting

Opening PRIDE Education ProjectPI Roundtable on Nature Conservation (Host)

USP and INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS

SIDS EducationExperts Meeting

Regional BPoA MeetingGlobal biodiversity Forum

Experts Meeting

USP Presentation - WSSD USP Graduate at WSSD

Roundtable at PCI Session on Cooperation on Education and Science for Sustainable Development

• We stress the critical need for capacity building and the creation of the human resources required by all partner organizations. Without these, governments, NGOs, the private sector, local communities and other stakeholders will not have the capacity to realize the commitments of the goals of the CBD, the Island Biodiversity Program of Work and the Global Island Partnership.

• As the largest teaching and research

Excerpt fromFormal Statement (Commitment) made by USP at the

Launching of the Global Island Partnership during COP 8, Curitiba, Brazil, 28 March 2006

• As the largest teaching and research organization in the Pacific Islands, USP makes a commitment, by the year 2010, to have at least 10% of our yearly output of graduates with degrees, diplomas and other short-term training in fields relevant to the successful implementation of the Global Island Partnership – HAVE ALREADY REACHED THIS!!

.

USP-Based Econesian Society (Est. 2007)

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Invasive Species

Overfishing and

Waste Disposal And Pollution

Overfishing andLive Fish Trade

Institutional Member on Behalf of the USP Member Countries of:

• The World Conservation Union (IUCN) with two IUCN Regonal Vice-Chairs, Commissions on Ecosystem Management and Education and CommunicationEducation and Communication

• The Pacific Science Association (PSA) – Hosted the 1997 Pacific Science Intercongress

USP Conservation and Environment Entities• Institute of Applied Science (IAS)• Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable

Development (PACE-SD) • Institute of Marine Resources (IMR)• Institute of Research and Training in Agriculture (IRETA)• Institute of Education (IOE)• Institute of Pacific Studies (IPS)• Institute of Pacific Studies (IPS)• Energy Studies Unit• Pacific Languages Unit (PLU)• Pacific Institute for Advanced Studies in Development and

Governance (PIAS-DG)• Institute for Jurisprudence and Legal Studies (IJALS)

Meeting with IUCN Director General and IUCN Members and Associates – June 2009

USP as a Voting Member of the Pacific Science Association Council

Medicinal Plant Project, Marshall Islands

Medicinal Ethnobiodiversity of the Marshall Islands

USP SPRH Support for Crested Iguana ReserveOff Vanua Levu, Fiji (National Trust of Fiji)

IMR CRISP- GCRMN Western Pacific Node and Fish, Reef, and Sealife Base Display, Pacific Science Intercongress

USP Students and Staff at Pacific Science Intercongress, Papeete, Tahiti, March 2009

USP/PACINET Presentations at Pacific Science Intercongress, Papeete, Tahiti, March 2009

USP Postgraduate Presentations at Pacific Science Intercongress, Papeete, Tahiti, March 2009

Ron Simpson of Econesians performing “Open Up Your Eyes” PSI, Papeete, Tahiti, March 2009

Institute of Applied Science (IAS)(Est. 1977)

• Houses the South Pacific Regional Herbarium• Focal point and founder member of the Locally Managed Marine

Areas Network (LMMA)• Conduct EPAs and Conservation Area Assessments• Biodiversity surveys and invasive species inventories• House the main laboratory facilities for water sampling and chemical • House the main laboratory facilities for water sampling and chemical

analysis for pesticides, food composition and other environment-related sampling

• Focal point for the Pacific Asia Biodiversity Transect Network (PABITRA)

• Hosts PACINET (Pacific Island Network for Strengthening Taxonomic and Bio-informatic Capacity)

• Runs taxonomic and parataxonomic workshops and training

USP and Roundtable Involvment in the Fiji LMMA/LMMA Network?

• Communities developing LMMAs within their traditional fishing ground

• NGOs assisting Local communities in locally managed marine areas (WWF, IAS – USP, MSP managed marine areas (WWF, IAS – USP, MSP -USP, Coral Cay Conservation, FSPI, Peace Corps, Resort Support, National Trust, Tourism operators) – ROUNDTABLE MEMBERS+!!!

• Government Ministries (Fisheries, Tourism, Environment, Fijian Affairs Board)

IAS - RESEARCH• 2-4 week biodiversity surveys, 2 in Fiji and 1 each in Vanuatu and

Solomon Islands • Collaborating with CI on the global MMA project on ecology, social

and economic aspects • Three NOAA projects on effectiveness of MMAs and ma pping

habitats for MMA networking • EBM project in Kadavu looking at upscaling coastal management

efforts • CPUE data from 60 villages with MMAs being collecte d and analysed • CPUE data from 60 villages with MMAs being collecte d and analysed • Understanding effects of opening MMAs (how much int erest can be

removed without endangering capital) • Studies on effects of nutrient pollution on marine biodiversity and

ways to lessen the marine pollution • Studies on drug potential of marine invertebrates

IAS Training Initiatives

• SHORT-TERM– Pacific Island Community-based Conservation Course - 5th running with

16 students for 2009, linked to follow-up ISLA course on island species– PI Science of Marine Managed Areas (MMAs), 5 week course in late

2008, 20 participants– Joint marine science course with NOAA, 10 days with 40 participants– Hope to offer PICCC for Solomons/PNG in 2010 if– CTI funds in Solomons. – CTI funds in Solomons.

• LONG-TERM– Postgraduate certificate and diploma developed for protected area

management with Darwin funding, first unit offered 2008 and offered again each year, other two awaiting USP approval, fourth course is the PICCC.

– Taxonomy initiative—several MSc and PhD students working on taxonomy of various taxa, with current emphasis via Darwin funding for insects, also the PACINET node activities

Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD)

• To serve as a focal point for the integrated study of environment and sustainable development issues at USP.

• To co-ordinate, stimulate and catalyze environmental teaching, research and consultancy at USP

• Organize and facilitate conferences, meetings and workshops on environmentally sustainable development issues

• To maintain close contact and collaborative links with governments • To maintain close contact and collaborative links with governments and environmental agencies.

• To facilitate the promotion of culturally sensitive environmental and development research.

• To provide information to present and prospective students and the outside community about courses and careers in the areas of environment and sustainable development

Marine Studies Programme/Institute of Marine Studies

• Houses the Pacific Islands Marine Reference Collection of Biological Specimens (PIMRC)

• Houses the Pacific Islands Marine Resources Information Systems (PIMRIS)

• Postharvest Fisheries Programme • Marine Studies Facility (boats, laboratories,• Marine Studies Facility (boats, laboratories,• SCUBA Dive Facility and Training• Dravuni Island Field Research Station, Astrolabe Reef• Pacific Centre for Oceans• Mositi Vanuaso Community-Based Conservation Initiative

Institute of Marine Resources (IMR)

• Pacific Node for FishBase, Reef Base and • Western Pacific node for the Global Coral Reef

Monitoring Network (GRCRMN)• Aquacultural Development and Prawn Farming • Aquacultural Development and Prawn Farming

Program

Ocean Institute Mositi Vanuaso Sustainable Island Development and LMMA Project, Gau Is., Fiji

PACINET – Pacific Island Network for Capacity Building in Taxonomy and Bioimformatics

• The USP through the Institute of Applied Sciences and the South Pacific Regional Herbarium continue a strong collaboration partnership with SPREP, SPC, SOPAC and BioNET-International in promoting and building the regional capacity and capability in taxonomy

• USP has offered short-courses and training workshops on selected taxonomic groups, such as invasive ants, sponges and freshwater taxonomic groups, such as invasive ants, sponges and freshwater fishes have been run for the benefit of Biosecurity and Biodiversity officers from around the region.

• USP and its partners are developing useful taxonomic tools to assist non-taxonomists in identifying and highlighting the Pacific Biodiversity, including LUCID Keys, field-guides and posters.

• USP is assisting in repatriating some of the biodiversity information based in overseas museums and herbaria.

PACINET DISPLAY – Pacific Science Intercongress, Papeete, Tahiti, March 2009

IRETA – Development of Hybrid Taro Varieties (in Partnership with SPC and Univ. of Hawai’I to Solve

the taro leaf blight problem in Samoa

ETHNOBIODIVERSITY SURVEYS in Many Pacific Countries and Territories

Asakaia Balawa and Teddy Fongin Vanuakavu MPA

Outputs

Double Listing by both Vernacular and Scientific Names

Collaboration with WWF on the Global Climate Witness Program on Kabara Lau, Fiji

DeepwaterSnapper(Etelis coruscans)Fiji Fish Ltd.Lami, Fiji Islands

USP – SPC Forest and Trees Program Collaborative Surveys of Flora and Vegetation of

Nauru as a Basis for Island Rehabilitation

CRISP-CRIOBE – University of Perpignon-USP Studies o fPost-Larval Fish Ecology and Establishment

InstallationInstallation

RecrutementRecrutement

ReproductionReproduction

ColonisationColonisation

DispersionDispersion

Source: Rene Galzan

Source: Rene Galzan

USP, PACE-SD and ESD

• Designated as UNESCO Regional Center of Excellence in ESD for the UN Decade of ESD by the Asian Center f or Cultural Understanding (ACCU), Tokyo

• Designated a Regional Centre of Expertise for Educational for Sustainable Development by the Unite d Nations University

• Major AusAID and EU Climate Change Education and • Major AusAID and EU Climate Change Education and Adaptation Initiatives

USP-ACCU ESD PROJECT: 2007-2011Mainstreaming ESD at USP to Enhance Education based Capacity

Building for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Island Countries

Overall Objective of the Project: To build education based capacity, using innovative curriculum development and delivery approaches, to promote sustainable development in the Pacific Island Countries.

Areas of Emphasis: Teacher Education, Sustainability Education and Community Empowerment through both formal and nonformal/informal approaches.nonformal/informal approaches.

Duration of the Project: Five years

Budget: $US 160,000 (ACCU contribution)

Partners: CROP agencies, NGOs, UniversitiesFocal Point: PACE-SD, UNESCO Chair

PACE-SD-led EDULINK - NIU Project(Pacific Network of Island Universities: Mainstream ing Education for Sustainable Development - 2009-2011)

• Partners: USP, UPNG) and the National University of Samoa (NUS)

• Collaborative project to mainstream ESD principles produce graduates, especially postgraduates, who will have the capacit y to address the SD challenges of the vast Pacific Island region.

• In line with the declaration of the Decade of Educa tion for Sustainable Development by the United Nations (UNDESD, 2005) an d the promotion of regional integration and sustainable development th rough education, as regional integration and sustainable development th rough education, as envisaged in the Pacific Plan.

• Objectives:– Enhancement of institutional capacities in Pacific universities by mainstreaming

ESD through innovative networking,– Introduce maximum flexibility into the delivery of courses by using multi-media

and interactive e-learning approaches – ICT applicat ions,– Make universities more relevant to the communities those surround them,– Enhance initiative & innovation through action rese arch for sustainable

development.

OUR MISSION . . . . . . .

. . . ensuring a sustainable . . . ensuring a sustainable future for ISLAND LIFE!!!!

By consciously forging a closer and stable marriage between the most up-to-most up-to-date modern science and time-tested local and indigenous knowledge.

And Providing the Human Resources and Scientific Capacity Needed to Fuel Conservation and Sustainable

Use Of Biodiversity in the Pacific Islands

VINAKA, TAGGIO TUMAS, THANKYOU!!!(Tagimaucia – Taveuni’s Endemic and Student!!)