SO OCIE Po ETY F BIO ost-C FOR LOG FIJ Conf R CO GY O JI 20

 SO
OCIE
ETY FOR
F R CO
ONSERVA
ATIO
ON
BIOLOG
GY OCEA
O ANIA
A
FIJJI 20
014
Po
ost-C
Confferen
nce Repo
R ort
Thirrd Regio
onal Co
onferen
nce for the
t SCB
B Ocean
nia Secttion,
Julyy 7-11, 2014
2
SSuva, Fiji
Repo
ort prepare
ed by: SStacy Jupite
er Chair, Local
C
l Organizingg Committee Wildlife Conservatioon Society FFiji Country Program Executive Summarry The Socciety for Con
nservation Biology Oceeania (SCBO
O) section 20
014 confereence was co
o‐
hosted with the Un
niversity of the South PPacific at th
heir Laucala Bay campuus in Suva, FFiji, from July 9‐111, 2014, with two prio
or days of w
workshops on July 8‐9. O
One hundreed and eighty‐nine registerred delegates and 51 U
USP studentt volunteerss from a bro
oad cross‐seection of the Oceaniaa region parrticipated in
n a packed pprogram wiith the main
n theme of “Resilience Island Ecosysttems and Co
ommunitiess”. One hun dred and fifty‐two oral presentat ions were delivereed across th
hree running sub‐them
mes: Vulneraable ecosysttems, comm
munities and species; Adaptive aand commu
unity‐based manageme
ent of socio‐ecological systems; an
nd Conservvation in a C
Changing Oceania. Plennary speake
ers were carefully chossen to repre
esent a range o
of topical isssues from across Oceannia, with paarticular foccus on issuees relevant tto the Pacific IIslands of O
Oceania. The SCB
BO has a firm commitm
ment to cap acity building, through
h the outreaach of its ch
hapters and training and m
mentoring fo
or young sciientists thro
oughout Occeania. Throough the ee, the SCBO was able to support travel fundraising effortss of the Locaal Organizinng Committe
and acccommodatio
on awards ffor young P acific Island
ders and cha
apter membbers. The confereence featureed multiple events for delegates ffrom Oceania chapterss, and speciaal recogniition of outsstanding stu
udent preseentations th
hrough five student aw
wards. A full day workshop was devvoted to boo
osting studeent writing and presenting skills. The SCB
BO conferen
nce was bro
oadly deem ed a successs by multip
ple measurees. The confference generatted a profit of approxim
mately FJ$228,012.75 (~
~US$14,859
9). The SCBO
O Board launched a special issue of Paccific Conserrvation Bioloogy on “Con
nservation o
of Biodiverssity in the P
Pacific Islands of Oceania”” to coincide with the cconference, and additional fundinng was secu
ured to producee a separatee special isssue of Pacif ic Conservaation Biology with papeers presente
ed during tthe Species Conservatiion sympos ium. The co
onference w
was publiciz ed on local and regionaal media. Fin
nally, an outcomes resoolution wass produced that providdes a strong policy platform
m for the SC
CBO to prom
mote at var ious regional and interrnational foora. Many delegattes reported
d to the Loccal Organizinng Committtee that the
ey really enjjoyed the sccientific contentt, networkin
ng opportun
nities, and FFijian hospittality. Past SCBBO Presidentt Carolyn Lundquiist and confeerence plannerr Dwain Qalo
ovaki having aa taste of Fijjian kava during tthe student networkking evening
g. © Carolynn Lundquist Introdu
uction The Socciety for Con
nservation Biology Oceeania (SCBO
O) section Fiiji conferen ce 2014 waas several years in thee making. A
After successsful SCBO cconferencess in Sydney (2007) and Darwin (2012), and the Intternational Congress foor Conservaation Biology in Aucklannd (2011), w
we wanted
d to find a veenue in the Pacific Isla nds of Oceaania to broa
aden the reaach of the SSociety and enggage, in parrticular, our young Paciific Islanderr scientists a
and conservvationists. W
We were veery pleased that the Un
niversity of the South P
Pacific (USP
P) in Fiji agreeed to co‐host the event w
with SCBO seection, won
nderfully su pported byy the Wildlife Conservattion Societyy. The SCB
BO 2014 con
nference was held in SSuva, Fiji, fro
om July 9‐11, 2014, witth two prior days of workkshops on Ju
uly 8‐9. It w
was attendedd by 189 registered participants aand 51 USP student volunteeers hailing from a broaad cross‐secction of the
e Oceania re
egion, includding: Fiji, Au
ustralia, New Zeealand, Samoa, Papua N
New Guineaa, Vanuatu, Solomon Isslands, Kiribbati, French Polynessia, New Caledonia, ass well as Jappan, USA and India. This is aa brief overvview of con
nference plaanning, high
hlights, outp
puts and ouur financial rreport. We are pleased to report thatt through thhe efforts of our sponsors and pla nning comm
mittee, the SCB
BO Fiji confeerence was able to gennerate a pro
ofit of appro
oximately FJJ$28,012.75
5 (~US$144,859), prio
or to deducttion of wiree transfer fe
ees and any differencess subject to exchangge rates. SCBO Bo
oard members celebrate the conferennce success a
at the closing
g banquet. ©
© Carolyn Lun
ndquist. Confereence Planniing The Loccal Organizing Committtee (LoC) w
was chaired b
by SCBO Fiji Board mem
mber (throu
ugh 2013), D
Dr. Stacy Jupiter, Direcctor of the W
Wildlife Con
nservation SSociety Fiji CCountry Pro
ogram. The LoC
C consisted of 18 additional comm
mitted repre
esentatives, including sstudents, fro
om USP, NGOs and the SCBO Fiji Board (Table 1). The LoC began planning in August 2013, initially with monthly meetings, and then bi‐monthly meetings from January 2014. In November 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the SCB and the USP, under which USP agreed to co‐host the event at its Laucala Bay Campus and where responsibilities were delineated for both parties and the LoC. The USP agreed to provide: a bank account for the event and provide financial reporting on incoming and outgoing funds; conference planning services; lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, IT support, cleaning services and security during the conference; and a meeting website (http://www.scbo2014.usp.ac.fj) equipped with registration facilities. The SCB agreed to: review and sign all necessary contracts; recognize USP as a sponsor without payment of a sponsorship fee; and communicate with USP as necessary during conference planning. The LoC had primary responsibilities to: organize deposit of seed funding into the USP bank account; determine the meeting theme and scientific program format; develop a conference logo; identify and invite plenary speakers; provide content for the conference website and marketing materials; release timely calls for symposia, workshops and abstracts; seek local and international sponsorship; review submissions and develop scientific program; plan social events and field trips; and oversee conference logistics. Table 1. Members of the Fiji Local Organizing Committee Name Stacy Jupiter Institution Wildlife Conservation Society
Gilianne Brodie University of the South Pacific
John Bythell Margaret Fox Richard Kingsford University of the South Pacific
Wildlife Conservation Society
University of New South Wales
Swee Kok Amit Kumar Carolyn Lundquist Sangeeta Mangubhai Cara Miller NatureFiji‐MareqetiViti
FSPI New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Wildlife Conservation Society
Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Yashika Nand Aman Narayan Tamara Osborne‐Naikatini
Dwain Qalovaki Wildlife Conservation Society
Econesian Society
University of the South Pacific
Wildlife Conservation Society
Milliana Ravuso Anitelu St. John Randy Thaman Nunia Thomas Moana Waqa BirdLife International
University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
NatureFiji‐MareqetiViti
Econesian Society
Role
Chair, sponsorship, scientific program, travel awards, general coordination, PCB special issue, field trips Student events, sponsorship, conference outputs Conference administration Conference logistics SCBO President, sponsorship, scientific program, travel awards, student awards, conference outputs, PCB special issue Silent auction
Youth engagement SCBO Board, Scientific program, travel awards, student awards Scientific program, workshops Scientific program, conference outputs, field trips Conference logistics Student events, volunteers Volunteer coordination Conference logistics, sponsorship, media, field trips Scientific program, field trips Conference logistics, IT coordination
Scientific program Scientific program Student events, volunteers Confereence Overvview The theeme of the cconference was “Resili ent Island EEcosystems and Comm
munities”. One hundred and fifty‐ttwo oral presentationss were delivvered across three runnning sub‐themes: Vulneraable ecosysttems, comm
munities andd species; aadaptive and
d communi ty‐based manageement of so
ocio‐ecological systemss; and conse
ervation in a changing Oceania. Accepted sympossia included:  Using biogeeography to
o set the scaale of conse
ervation in M
Melanesia  Advancing the integration of connnectivity processes into
o marine coonservation
n planning  Integratingg science witth participaatory conserrvation  Exploring th
he resilience of Pacific Island speccies, habitatts, ecosysteems and communities  Traditional ecological knowledge and conserrvation  Spatial man
nagement o
of coastal seeascapes for ecologicall functionin g, ecosystem services and food secu
urity  Species con
nservation  Integrated land‐sea planning  Fisheries byy‐catch in O
Oceania: asssessment an
nd solutionss  Prioritising conservatio
on actions oon tropical islands  Pacific repttiles: decline
es, extinctioons and new
w species  Socioecono
omic considerations in conservatio
on planning
g: past, pressent and futture  Systematic conservatio
on planningg for marine
e mega‐faun
na. We careefully selectted our plen
nary speakeers to repre
esent a rang
ge of topicall issues from
m across O
Oceania, with particulaar focus on issues relevvant to the Pacific Islannds of Oceania (Table 22). Openingg remarks were delivereed by SCB P
President‐Elect James W
Watson and
d closing remarks were given by SCBO President R
Richard Kinggsford. LEFT: SCB Presiden
nt‐Elect receiving a garlaand as chief g
guest. RIGHT
T: Plenary speeaker Taholo
o Kami expla
aining how tto engage in high level poolicy processes to advancce conservatition in Ocean
nia. © Caarolyn Lundqu
uist Table 2. Plenary speaker presentation topics Speaker Taholo Kami, Director of IUCN Oceania Regional Office David Keith, University of New South Wales Konai and Randy Thaman, University of the South Pacific Eve Macdonald‐Madden, University of Queensland Chris Filardi, American Museum of Natural History Bob Pressey, James Cook University Title
Biodiversity conservation in the Pacific – significant shift required
Risk assessment of ecosystems: concepts, challenges, opportunities
Kakala Hingoa – sacred plants and conservation in the Pacific Islands Searching for black swans among the shrinking ice Throwing away the keys to paradise: unlocking conservation lessons among Pacific islands Making protected areas make a difference: impact evaluation as a tractable scientific challenge and an essential policy tool SCB Chapters engagement SCB Chapters Committee representative Marit Wilkerson ensured ample opportunity to engage and showcase SCB Oceania Chapter representatives. In the Oceania region, SCB has chapters at: Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand; University of Sydney, Australia; and University of Queensland, Australia. SCB chapter activities were featured during presentations in the symposium on “Integrating science with participatory conservation.” A special lunchtime event was arranged to provide information on “How and why to start an SCB chapter”. Finally, an evening social event was organized for chapter members to network and meet each other. The SCB Chapters Committee provided US$3,000 for Chapter Leaders travel and accommodation awards, which was matched by the LoC. Travel awards With sponsorship from the New Zealand Pacific Island Countries Participation Fund, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and the U.S. Embassy in Suva (via a grant to researchers at Columbia University), the LoC was able to provide travel support for seven Pacific Island students and young researchers who would not have otherwise been able to participate in the conference. The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation additionally provide funding support to two presenters, and the University of the South Pacific Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment provided FJ$20,000 (~US$10,400) to support travel and accommodation for Pacific Islander presenters in the Species Conservation symposium. Student awards All student abstracts submitted to the conference were initially screened based on: (1) scientific rigour; (2) novelty; (3) creativity of approach; (4) relevance to conservation and management; and (5) clarity of presentation. Judges from the SCBO Board judged the top scoring twenty presentations delivered at the conference. Five awards, which included a certificate and a 1 year subscription to Pacific Conservation Biology, were given to:  Yolarnie Amepou, University of Canberra  Rebecca Jarvis, Auckland University of Technology  John Lamaris, University of Papua New Guinea  Edgar Pollard, University of the South Pacific  Sandra Vogel, University of New South Wales Worksh
hops Prior to
o the main SSCBO conferrence, four workshopss were sched
duled over 2 days on d
diverse topics, including:  A hands‐on
n introductio
on to applieed social ne
etwork analyysis for com
mmunity‐based conservatio
on  Scientific w
writers and p
presenters w
workshop: ttwo essentiial skills to bbecoming a good scientists  Working fo
orward to im
mplement m
more effective sea cucu
umber fisheeries managgement in the Paciffic Islands  Bridging the research implementaation gap The workshops foccused on practical, cappacity‐building activities. The scienntific writers and presentters worksh
hop was targgeted at un iversity students seeking tips to gget their ressearch noticed
d. The Wildlife Conservation Societty Fiji Country Program
m supportedd participation of Fiji Fisheries Deparrtment stafff from arouund the country to learn insights frrom their ues from th
he Vanuata Fisheries Deepartment and the Seccretariat of the Pacific colleagu
Commu
unity about latest deve
elopments inn sea cucum
mber manag
gement. Th e social nettwork analysiss workshop showcased
d the latest tools for identifying prroperties off social netw
works, as well as brainstorming ideass to weave networks to
ogether to improve connservation implem
mentation. TThe impleme
entation gaap workshop
p drew from
m activities iin the Frog Design’s Collectivee Action Too
olkit to expl ore conservvation issue
es concerninng multiple prioritiees and scalee mismatch in Oceania . Partiicipants and facilitators o
of the Scienttific Writers a
and Presente
ers Workshopp. © Stacy Ju
upiter Evening
g events and
d field trips An open
ning cocktail and poste
er session w
was held at tthe Japan IC
CT lecture ttheatre on U
USP campuss on the eveening on July 9. Guestss were treatted to three
e separate pperformances showcaasing Pacificc cultures byy the local ccelebrated d
dance troup
pe VOU (http:///www.voufiji.com). Stu
udent membbers of the Econesian SSociety orgaanized a stu
udent networking evenin
ng on July 10
0, during w hich they in
nvited respe
ected membbers of the conservvation comm
munity to provide advi ce and sharre how theyy entered thheir respecttive conservvation profeessions. A final cocktaill was held aat the Fiji Museum on JJuly 11, with
h entertainment by tthe Tom Maawi jazz bannd. Studentt awards we
ere presenteed, as well aas winnerss of the silent auction. The silent aauction raissed FJ$2,500
0 (~US$1,3000) to support local NGO NaatureFiji‐MaareqetiViti tto lead deveelopment o
of a national protected area on Taveuni Island in
n Fiji. Confereence participants had tthe option tto participate in one off four field ttrips to visitt the stunnin
ng biodiverssity of Fiji. These trips inncluded:  Bird watchiing at the Savura Foresst Reserve
 Spinner dolphin viewin
ng at Moonn Reef  Visit to the Nabalasere
e Waterfall and Wailottua Bat Cave
e  Hiking in Co
olo‐i‐Suva FForest Reserrve LEFT: Members of VO
OU dance tro
oupe perform
ming during opening cere
emony. RIGH
HT: Field trip encountter with the N
Nabalasere w
waterfall. © Carolyn Lund
dquist Financee Report Financiaal administrration of the SCBO connference acccount was h
handled by the Vice Chancellor’s office at the USP. Total inco me for the conference
e was FJ$1400,151.26 (~US$688,366) and expenditure was FJ$988,027.72 (~US$47,818)), generatinng a profit of FJ$42,1123.54 (~US$20,548) (T
Table 3). Table 3. Financial report produced by USP administration staff, as of April 10, 2015 in FJD. SCB Oceania Congress 2014
Financial Report 2014
FJD
Income
Sponsorship
Oceania Society for Conservation Biology
Taronga Conservation Society
ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Rufford Foundation
SCB Chapter Travel Awards
Pacific Island Countries Participation Funding (New Zealand Government)
Total sponsorship
6,588.67
13,264.79
11,905.39
3,073.56
4,248.08
9,539.77
48,620.26
Registration
Society for Conservation Biology Registration Total Income
91,531.00
140,151.26
Expenditure
Administration and planning
Printing/Photocopy
Computer Parts & Accessories
Rent of Equipment
Rent of Premises
Conference administration and planning
Staff payment
Workshop Expenses
Total Administration and Planning
2,388.00
2,704.86
1,850.00
1,610.00
10,000.00
3,833.86
31,000.00
53,386.72
Travel and entertainment expenditure
Hospitality/Exp on Meetings
USP Halls for participant accommodation
Chapter and Pacific Islander travel awards
Conference participant packages and gifts
Conference entertainment
Field trips
Plenary speaker travel and accommodation
Total travel and entertainment expenditure
5,713.14
6,585.00
18,280.52
3,182.30
750.00
1,440.00
8,690.04
44,641.00
Total Expenditure
98,027.72
Surplus
42,123.54 The LoC
C was able tto raise cash
h sponsorshhip from:  The New Zeealand Gove
ernment Paacific Island Country Pa
articipation Fund to covver travel supp
port for 3 Paacific Island students;
 The Australian Researcch Council CCentre of Exxcellence fo
or Coral Reeef Studies, T
Taronga on Society aand the U.SS. Embassy ((via a grant to Columbiia Universityy who Conservatio
ran a worksshop at USP
P the week prior to the
e SCBO confference) to cover trave
el support forr four additiional Pacificc Islanders;
 The Internaational Seaffood Sustainnability Fou
undation to cover particcipation of two conferencee delegates; Oceania Reggional Officee to cover p
production o
of a special issue of Pacific  The IUCN O
Conservatio
on Biology w
with paperss from the SSpecies Conservation ssymposium;  The Rufford
d Foundatio
on to cover costs of the
e water bottles given t o conferencce participants; and  The USP Faaculty of Science, Technnology and Environment to cover participatio
on from Pacific Islan
nders in the
e Species Coonservation symposium
m and the sttudent netw
working evening. We are additionally grateful to the follow
wing organizzations who
o donated tto the silentt auction
n: Top Symp
phony (Fiji) LLtd; Rivers FFiji; Dolphin
n Bay Diverss Retreat; Fiiji Museum; GIZ; Indonessian Embasssy; MyFitne
ess; NatureFFiji‐MareqetiViti; Parad
dise Beveragges Fiji; Pho
oenix Islands Protected A
Area; Enviro
onment Connsultants Fijji; and Daltrron. Media Mangubhai were intervviewed SCBO President Ricchard Kingsford and LooC member Sangeeta M
eat program
m. Pacific Be
eat also feattured an intterview with on Radiio Australia’’s Pacific Be
plenaryy speaker Raandy Thamaan, while pl enary speaker Taholo Kami was innterviewed on Fiji televisio
on. A press release was issued du ring the con
nference through the U
University o
of New South W
Wales. Confereence Outpu
uts SCBO Pressident Richa
ard Kingsforrd and LoC C
Chair Stacy Jupitter timed th
he release oof a special issue of Pacific Con
nservation B
Biology to ccoincide witth the SCBO confference. The
e special isssue is focuse
ed on “Conservation of Biod
diversity in tthe Pacific Islands of Oceaniaa”, and features articlees on:  Iso
olated and vvulnerable: the historyy and future of P
Pacific Island
d terrestria l biodiversitty;  Critical issues and new chhallenges fo
or research aand manage
ement of invvasive plantts in the Pacific Islands;  Loccally‐manag
ged marine areas: multtiple objectives and diverse
e strategiess;  Agrodeforesta
ation and thhe loss of agrobiodivversity in the Pacific Islaands: a call for conservatiion; 

Principles for integrated island management in the tropical Pacific; and Conservation of biodiversity in the Pacific Islands of Oceania: challenges and opportunities. LoC Gilianne Brodie is leading the development of another special issue of Pacific Conservation Biology using outputs from the papers delivered during the Species Conservation symposium. SCBO President Richard Kingsford used his closing marks to invite comments on a draft conference resolution. The resolution calls for:  Increased recognition of unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss in Oceania;  Countries to fulfil commitments to reach Aichi Targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity;  Partnerships with local communities by incorporating traditional knowledge and values;  Evidence‐based decision‐making for conservation policy and management;  Implementation of integrated management that adequately considers costs and benefits to societies and ecosystems; and  Implementation of regular state of the environment reporting. The full text of the resolution and call to action can be found in Appendix 1. Appendix 1. Resolutions, Society for Conservation Biology (Oceania) – Conference in Suva, Fiji, 9‐11th July 2014 Our quality of life, economies and social, cultural and spiritual values are highly dependent on the ecosystem goods and services provided by the biodiversity of Oceania. Healthy ecosystems support healthy sustainable economies and give them resilience to climate, environmental and economic change. The Pacific and its islands are clearly on the frontline in the battle for biodiversity conservation and against human‐induced climate change and associated sea‐level rise and increases in extreme events. At the Society for Conservation Biology (Oceania) Conference in Fiji, 200 of the region’s conservation scientists called on international agencies, governments, communities and the private sector and other stakeholders to: • recognise the unprecedented rate of biodiversity loss in Pacific Island, Australian and New Zealand environments, caused by logging, land clearance, habitat degradation, uncontrolled harvesting of resources (e.g., overfishing), invasive species, pollution and human‐induced climate change and increasing sea level rise and extreme events; • meet commitments to blue‐green environmentally sustainable development and the Aichi Targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity; • partner with local communities by building synergies between indigenous local knowledge systems and cultural values, sharing scientific knowledge and expertise and improving capacity through training; • base decision‐making for conservation policy and management on multiple lines of evidence, including scientific and indigenous local knowledge which often provides long‐
term insights into changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services; • implement integrated ecosystem management across rich biocultural land and seascape mosaics, to adequately incorporate the costs and benefits to societies and ecosystems (e.g., climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, improved health, livelihoods, ecological security); • implement regular reporting of the State of the Environment including of threatened species and ecosystems at local community or resource‐user, regional and national levels, informed by investment in local environmental monitoring and reporting and; • recognise the value of the newly established Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in providing timely accurate information on the state of biodiversity and ecosystem services for evidence‐based policy and management aimed at sustaining future human wellbeing, biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services.