Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme - SPREP

Refreshed website launched in the lead up to the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation

From 7 to 11 September this year, the Pacific will hold the region’s largest Nature Conservation conference putting nature at the centre of our collective efforts in tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution.

Hosted in Noumea, New Caledonia at the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, the conference will have sessions for working groups, a Pacific youth roundtable, a high-level segment, site visits and a special session on sustainable financing. It aims to bring together practitioners, policymakers, community representatives, researchers, youth, and partners to share experiences and explore solutions for nature conservation in the Pacific.

More information can now be found at the refreshed Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT) website - https://www.pacificislandsroundtable.com/

For the full news story - https://www.sprep.org/news/refreshed-website-launched-in-the-lead-up-to-the-11th-pacific-islands-conference-on-nature-conservation

🇫🇯 Fiji turning data to action to tackle marine litter

Pacific countries are increasingly recognising the importance of robust data and community participation in tackling marine litter and plastic pollution.

As part of these efforts, Fiji hosted a Marine Litter Training Workshop from 2–5 June 2026 under the AFD-funded Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific – Phase 2 (SWAP2) Project at the Greenhouse Co-working Space in Suva.

Dr. Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, highlighted the importance of collective action in addressing marine litter.

“Marine litter is more than an environmental issue,” he said. “It is a development challenge, an economic challenge, and increasingly, a challenge to the resilience of our island nations.”

The workshop was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC), the Agence française de développement (AFD), Sustainable Coastlines New Zealand, and a local partner Community Centred Conservation (C3).

For more - https://www.sprep.org/news/fiji-turning-data-to-action-to-tackle-marine-litter
For French version - https://www.sprep.org/news/les-fidji-transforment-les-donnees-en-actions-pour-lutter-contre-les-dechets-marins

📣 Calling all Pacific youth!

Join us for Shaping Our Future: Pacific Youth on the Road to CBD COP17, an engaging webinar exploring biodiversity governance, youth leadership, and opportunities to influence conservation priorities across the Pacific.

Hear from regional experts and discover how young people can help shape the future of biodiversity ahead of .

📅 25 June
⏰ 1:00–2:00 PM (Fiji Time)
💻 Online

Register now and make your voice count for nature and the future of our Pacific region!

Register here to get the meeting Link: https://forms.gle/Ae9mf71gDcLoyF3K6

SPREP and Pacific Disability Forum to empower women with disabilities

Women with disabilities in Fiji, Kiribati and Tonga will receive new livelihood opportunities while helping reduce plastic pollution through a partnership between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF).

Funded by the Australian Government, SPREP's Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) will support PDF to pilot an initiative that trains women with disabilities to manufacture and distribute reusable menstrual pads, and related hygiene products in the three Pacific Island countries.

The initiative aims to provide sustainable alternatives to disposable menstrual products, many of which contain plastic materials that contribute to growing waste and pollution challenges across the Pacific.

Through the project, women from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) will receive training, equipment and materials to produce reusable menstrual pad kits, including carry bags, underwear, wash cloths, soap and waterproof storage bags.

The products will then be distributed to women and girls with disabilities, accompanied by practical training on their use, care and maintenance.

For more - https://www.sprep.org/news/sprep-and-pacific-disability-forum-to-empower-women-with-disabilities

𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

On World Oceans Day on 8 June, Samoa reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the Ocean through strengthened marine litter monitoring and improved waste management practices.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), the French Embassy in Samoa, and Sustainable Coastlines New Zealand, successfully delivered a two-day Marine Litter Training Workshop from 26-27 May 2026.

MNRE Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing marine litter and plastic pollution.

“Marine litter and plastic pollution remain one of the greatest environmental challenges facing our region today,” she said. “As Pacific island nations, our oceans are central to our livelihoods, culture, biodiversity and economic wellbeing. Protecting them is therefore a shared regional responsibility.”

Read full story ⬇⬇⬇
ln.run/y4VZo

For French version⬇⬇⬇
ln.run/X5voU

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa

🇹🇴 A milestone for Nature-based Solutions in Tonga 🌿

The Government of Tonga, in partnership with SPREP, has officially launched and received three key policy outputs under the Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project, marking an important step forward in strengthening the integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into Tonga’s national planning and resilience efforts.

Held in Nuku’alofa, the Tonga PPIN Policy Launch and Handover Event celebrated the culmination of two years of collaboration, stakeholder engagement, technical assessments, and policy development work across the agriculture, forestry, coastal resilience, and environment sectors.

The event marked the official handover of:
📘 Guidelines for Integrating Nature-based Solutions for Resilient Agriculture and Forestry in Tonga
📗 National Policy Framework Assessment Report on Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resilience and Forestry Sectors, Tonga
📙 Policy Briefing Paper on Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resilience and Forestry Sectors, Tonga

Together, these outputs help strengthen alignment between Tonga’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), Joint National Adaptation Plan (JNAP), and Tonga Agriculture Sector Plan (TASP II), while supporting practical pathways for climate resilience, sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and community livelihoods.

The event also recognised the strong collaboration between the Government of Tonga, national stakeholders, technical partners, and development partners throughout the PPIN journey.

SPREP sincerely acknowledges the leadership and commitment of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), the Department of Environment as SPREP’s national focal point, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF) as the technical focal point for this work.

Full story: https://www.sprep.org/news/a-milestone-for-nature-based-solutions-in-tongas-national-planning-journey

The Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project is funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). PPIN seeks to support the development of policy and legislation for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), build regional awareness and capacity, and strengthen regional cooperation amongst Pacific Island countries on NbS. PPIN is managed by IUCN in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

SPREP marks 33rd birthday with Pacific Environment and Innovation Webinar Series

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) turned 33 years old today.

And to embrace digital transformation, innovation and flexibility, considered essential in delivering services to its members, the commemoration turned to technology and cyberspace, to encourage engagement from the Pacific and beyond.

The SPREP Open Day 2026 Pacific Environment and Innovation Webinar Series the first of its type for a SPREP Open Day, welcomed more than a hundred participants from SPREP Member countries, including students from colleges, universities, as well as interested public participants.

The webinar series, delivered live from SPREP’s Mana Studio at Vailima, featured six sessions showcasing SPREP’s work and expertise in Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change Resilience, Environmental Governance, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Climate Science and Information and Governance and Operations.

For full story - https://www.sprep.org/news/sprep-marks-33rd-birthday-with-pacific-environment-and-innovation-webinar-series

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐌𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

The 12th Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) meeting has officially commenced at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) campus in Vailima, Apia, Samoa, bringing together key stakeholders, technical partners and the programme team to strengthen collaboration and enhance programme impact on invasive species management and regional resilience efforts.

The week-long meeting, provides an important platform for coordination, reflection and forward planning among PRISMSS partners, including representatives from SPREP, Island Conservation, BirdLife International, Earth Sciences New Zealand, Bioeconomy Science Institute and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Read more ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/ms6yez8f

🌏🎉 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!

Celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of the Agreement Establishing the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with our special Environment & Innovation Webinar Series.

📅 Date: 16 June 2026
💻 Venue: Online
📍REGISTER HERE: https://sprep.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hVbueDldTy2eYRSXvmQKGg #/registration

🕚 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞

🌿 Session 1 - 10:10am – 11:10am
"Stewards of the Pacific: Connecting Youth Actions, Biodiversity Conservation, and Island Resilience"
Biodiversity Conservation Programme

🌏 Session 2 - 11:20am – 12:20pm
"Catalysing Climate Action and Investment in the Pacific"
Climate Change Resilience Programme

⚖️ Session 3 - 12:30pm – 1:30pm
"Environmental Governance in the Pacific"
Environmental Governance Programme

♻️ Session 4 - 2:15pm – 3:15pm
"Guidelines for Greening Events in the Pacific"
Waste Management & Pollution Control Programme

🌦️ Session 5 - 3:25pm – 4:25pm
"Climate Services in Action: SPREP’s Role in Supporting the Pacific and What to Expect from the Upcoming El Niño"
Climate Science & Information Programme

🌏🎉 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐒 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐏 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔!
Celebrate the 33rd Anniversary of the Agreement Establishing the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with our special Environment & Innovation Webinar Series.

📅 Date: 16 June 2026
💻 Venue: Online
📍REGISTER HERE: https://sprep.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hVbueDldTy2eYRSXvmQKGg #/registration

Discover how SPREP is working towards a through engaging webinar sessions led by our Programmes. Connect with Pacific experts, learn about key environmental issues facing our region, and explore how you can contribute to a resilient Pacific environment.

🕚 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞

🌿 Session 1 - 10:10am – 11:10am
"Stewards of the Pacific: Connecting Youth Actions, Biodiversity Conservation, and Island Resilience"
Biodiversity Conservation Programme

🌏 Session 2 - 11:20am – 12:20pm
"Catalysing Climate Action and Investment in the Pacific"
Climate Change Resilience Programme

⚖️ Session 3 - 12:30pm – 1:30pm
"Environmental Governance in the Pacific"
Environmental Governance Programme

♻️ Session 4 - 2:15pm – 3:15pm
"Guidelines for Greening Events in the Pacific"
Waste Management & Pollution Control Programme

🌦️ Session 5 - 3:25pm – 4:25pm
"Climate Services in Action: SPREP’s Role in Supporting the Pacific and What to Expect from the Upcoming El Niño"
Climate Science & Information Programme