Germany funds €20 million project to restore Pacific island ecosystems
The multi-year initiative aims to restore native wildlife and plants across Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Wallis and Futuna.
Germany is providing €20 million ($23,079,800) to restore native plants and wildlife in Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Wallis and Futuna, according to the Times of India. The grant is being provided by the German Federal Government through its International Climate Initiative (IKI) for a project titled ‘Restoring Pacific Islands for Nature and People’.
The seven-year project aims to repair nutrient cycles and create healthy ecosystems by removing primary threats such as invasive species. The initiative will work with national governments, customary authorities and local communities to co-design the restoration of these islands.
The project is managed by a consortium including the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Palau Conservation Society, Vava’u Environmental Protection Association, BirdLife International Pacific and Island Conservation. SPREP has committed more than €460,000 and BirdLife more than €620,000, while Island Conservation is working to raise another €1.5 million.
Dr Penny Becker, Chief Executive Officer of Island Conservation, said restoring islands provides benefits for ecosystems that communities rely on for food security, health and climate resilience. David Moverley, Invasive Species Adviser at SPREP, said the project will contribute to sustaining efforts achieved over the past six years.
Steve Cranwell of BirdLife International Pacific described the approach as a Pacific-led model that integrates science, traditional knowledge, policy reform and community leadership. A representative of the Palau Conservation Society said the project is critical to ensuring island resources continue to sustain life and livelihoods.