PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:51 AM by Tevita

Leadership Award for Hon Anote Tong

From: Matangi

KIRIBATI President, The Honourable Anote Tong has been presented with an Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award by Conservation International (CI) in recognition of his global leadership in protected areas with the declaration of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in March 2006. At 184,700 square kilometres (18.5 million hectares) the PIPA is the third largest marine protected area in the world.

The PIPA has been created in collaboration with the New England Aquarium and CI.At a ceremony on May 11 at CI's global headquarters in Arlington (Virginia) President Tong received the Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award from CI President Dr. Russ Mittermeier. "We applaud the leadership shown by President Tong on behalf of the people of Kiribati," said Dr Mittermeier. "The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is an important sanctuary for the unique biodiversity of the Pacific region, which includes many species of coral, reef fish, seabirds and turtles."

"Conservation International will continue to support the Government of Kiribati in the planning and management of this marine protected area, which is a great gift to the heritage of the people of Kiribati, and to mankind," added Dr Mittermeier.

Accepting the award President Tong said he hoped others would follow his example by taking steps to protect threatened natural resources. "We are able to enjoy our oceans and reefs, and we continue to profit from the resources they provide, but have a responsibility to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to do the same," said President Tong. "With the threat of global climate change remoteness can no longer be relied upon to conserve our atolls, reefs and marine life," said President Tong. "I hope other countries - in particular developed countries - will follow the example set by the Republic of Kiribati and take action to protect the world?s natural resources."President Tong was congratulated by Dr Greg Stone, Vice President for Global Marine Programs at the New England Aquarium (Boston, USA), whose research team has carried out several expeditions in the region, documenting the unique biodiversity values of the Phoenix Islands.

Kiribati is the largest atoll nation is the world with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 3.6 million square kilometres. The PIPA which includes islands, seabed, seamounts, open ocean and coral reefs represents approximately five per cent of the EEZ.The management and enforcement of the protected area will be financed through an endowment system which will also compensate the government for lost fishing licence revenues. In the face of multiple threats to marine biodiversity this represents a sustainable way to finance a conservation scheme. CI's Global Conservation Fund is financing the implementation phase and will begin the capitalisation of the endowment. CI, 30/05/07.



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This weblog documents the activities of Pacific Agricultural Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN), along with other information on plant genetic resources (PGR) in the Pacific. The myriad varieties found within cultivated plants are fundamental to the present and future productivity of agriculture. PAPGREN, which is coordinated by the Land Resources Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), helps Pacific countries and territories to conserve their crop genetic diversity sustainably, with technical assistance from the Bioversity International (BI) and support from NZAID and ACIAR. SPC also hosts the Centre of Pacific Crops and Trees (CEPaCT). The CEPaCT maintains regional in vitro collections of crops important to the Pacific and carries out research on tissue culture technology. The CEPaCT Adviser is Dr Mary Taylor (MaryT@spc.int), the CEPaCT Curator is Ms Valerie Tuia (ValerieT@spc.int). PAPGREN coordination and support IPGRI ACIAR NZAID CTA SPC PAPGREN CEPaCT Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings. PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture Department of Resources & Development P.O. Box 96 Rarotonga Cook Islands Tel: (682) 28711-29720 Fax: (682) 21881 Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck Mr Adelino S. Lorens Chief Agriculture Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs P.O. Box 1028 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Tel: (691) 3202400 Fax: (691) 3202127 Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm Dr Lois Englberger Island Food Community of Pohnpei Research Advisor P.O. Box 2299 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Email: nutrition@mail.fm Mr Apisai Ucuboi Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest Koronivia Research Station P.O. 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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, June 03, 2007 Posted 1:51 AM by Tevita Leadership Award for Hon Anote Tong From: Matangi KIRIBATI President, The Honourable Anote Tong has been presented with an Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award by Conservation International (CI) in recognition of his global leadership in protected areas with the declaration of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in March 2006. At 184,700 square kilometres (18.5 million hectares) the PIPA is the third largest marine protected area in the world. The PIPA has been created in collaboration with the New England Aquarium and CI.At a ceremony on May 11 at CI's global headquarters in Arlington (Virginia) President Tong received the Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award from CI President Dr. Russ Mittermeier. "We applaud the leadership shown by President Tong on behalf of the people of Kiribati," said Dr Mittermeier. "The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is an important sanctuary for the unique biodiversity of the Pacific region, which includes many species of coral, reef fish, seabirds and turtles." "Conservation International will continue to support the Government of Kiribati in the planning and management of this marine protected area, which is a great gift to the heritage of the people of Kiribati, and to mankind," added Dr Mittermeier. Accepting the award President Tong said he hoped others would follow his example by taking steps to protect threatened natural resources. "We are able to enjoy our oceans and reefs, and we continue to profit from the resources they provide, but have a responsibility to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to do the same," said President Tong. "With the threat of global climate change remoteness can no longer be relied upon to conserve our atolls, reefs and marine life," said President Tong. "I hope other countries - in particular developed countries - will follow the example set by the Republic of Kiribati and take action to protect the world?s natural resources."President Tong was congratulated by Dr Greg Stone, Vice President for Global Marine Programs at the New England Aquarium (Boston, USA), whose research team has carried out several expeditions in the region, documenting the unique biodiversity values of the Phoenix Islands. Kiribati is the largest atoll nation is the world with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 3.6 million square kilometres. The PIPA which includes islands, seabed, seamounts, open ocean and coral reefs represents approximately five per cent of the EEZ.The management and enforcement of the protected area will be financed through an endowment system which will also compensate the government for lost fishing licence revenues. In the face of multiple threats to marine biodiversity this represents a sustainable way to finance a conservation scheme. CI's Global Conservation Fund is financing the implementation phase and will begin the capitalisation of the endowment. CI, 30/05/07. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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