Insights from PIRT members and partners at the Pacific Dialogue on NBSAPs, GBF Target 3, and GEF

By Claire Oiire, PIRT Pacific Biodiversity Coordinator. PIRT members and partners played key roles in a recent series of meetings held in Nadi, Fiji: the Pacific Dialogue on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), followed by a workshop on Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the UNEP Technical Workshop on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Early Action Support Project.

The meetings were held from 18–26 March 2024 and hosted by SPREP in partnership with the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, UNEP, and IUCN Oceania. PIRT working group co-chairs — particularly the Nature-based Solutions WG and the Pacific Area-based Conservation Network (PACoN) — convened breakout sessions and contributed to the Pacific position papers.

NBSAP alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Framework

National focal points from 14 Pacific Island countries and territories shared progress on updating their NBSAPs to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Key challenges raised included data gaps for marine species, capacity limits for monitoring 30×30 commitments, and the need for finance to translate plans into delivery on the ground.

Target 3 (30×30) workshop

The 30×30 workshop focused on practical pathways to area-based conservation across the vast ocean territories of Pacific countries. Discussion ranged across LMMA networks, Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), trans-boundary corridors, and the recognition of customary tenure as a foundation for protected area governance.

GEF Early Action Support

The UNEP technical workshop on GEF Early Action Support helped Pacific NBSAP focal points scope their applications for the next funding window. Several PIRT member organisations are providing technical assistance to the application packages — including SPREP, IUCN Oceania, WCS Fiji and BirdLife Pacific.

Read the full Pacific Dialogue learning summary on the SPREP website and follow the Framework consultation page for opportunities to contribute.