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Small Islands, Big Difference: Beyond the Horizon The Seychelles Ambassador for Climate Change and Small Island Developing States, Ronny Jumeau, shares perspectives on how island are taking action in the face of climate change. Filmed by The Nature Conservancy who hosted the Global Island Partnership 2013 Steering Committee meeting.
During Island Bright Spots at CBD COP-11, Prof. Rolph Payet FRGS, Minister of Environment and Energy of the Republic of Seychelles, explains the role model that the Seychelles has become in its approach to conservation. Payet affirms that his international counterparts are inspired by progress made in conservation in the Seychelles. He says that at COP11 they are showcasing their successes and demonstrating that biodiversity targets can be achieved.
During Island Bright Spots at CBD COP-11, Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering, Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour of the British Virgin Islands, explains the impact of environmental degradation and climate change on the islands. Pickering emphasizes that tourism is a key industry for the British Virgin Islands and that their natural environment is at the center of this. He states that 70 – 80% of visitors are attracted by the islands’ natural environment.
During Island Bright Spots at CBD COP-11, Chipper Wichman, CEO of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), explains the conservation work undertaken by his Hawaii-based organisation. Wichman explains that the main work of NTBG consists of practical conservation, research and education programs. He also describes the biodiversity assessments they undertake on remote Pacific islands to detail and then publicise previously undiscovered species.
During Island Bright Spots at CBD COP-11, Brett Jenks, CEO of conservation group Rare says too many NGOs focus on publicising problems rather than highlighting the solutions that are available to environmental problems. He says Rare focuses instead on identifying easily replicable ideas to conservation challenges and adapting and spreading them to other countries.
During Island Bright Spots at CBD COP-11, Pedro Maquiling Trinidad Jr., Mayor of Cortes in the Philippines says he want to replicate the marine conservation project in his province around the country. He says 80% of his citizens are dependent on fishing but by expanding the concept further, a sustainable livelihood can be created for everyone.
During Island Bright Spots at CBD COP-11, Cheryl M. Calaustro, a Wildlife Biologist at the Guam Department of Agriculture, discusses the devastating impact of invasive species on Guam. Calaustro recounts that the brown snakes arrived on Guam as stowaways in a cargo shipment and, being faced by no natural predators, grew in number to reach the one to two million there are on Guam today. Guam is an island that is 30 miles long and at most 7 miles wide: according to Calaustro this equates to 12 000 snakes per acre.
In May of 2008, The Bahamas’ government, alongside leaders from Jamaica, Grenada, the
Dominican Republic, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines launched the Caribbean Challenge, a
region-wide campaign to protect the health of the Caribbean’s lands and waters.
Related Information:
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