On September 18th, a side event at the IUCN Oceania Regional Conservation Forum (ORCF) brought together grantees and experts to address conservation challenges in the Pacific. The event showcased the region’s most ambitious environmental initiatives, with a focus on the BESTLIFE2030 Programme, the Kiwa Initiative, and the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme. As the regional hub for the BESTLIFE2030 Programme, the IUCN French National Committee facilitated an inspiring exchange of experiences, allowing participants to explore innovative approaches to safeguard biodiversity in one of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems.
The discussions provided a platform to highlight progress under key conservation projects and share valuable lessons learned. It also introduced the BESTLIFE2030 Programme to new audiences, offering insight into the initiative’s background and successes. Notably, the event highlighted past BEST projects in the French Pacific territories of New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna, emphasising their impact on biodiversity conservation throughout the region.
A key takeaway from the event was the exceptional work being carried out by grantees under these calls for proposals. Their unwavering commitment to nature conservation has yielded significant results, and there was consensus on the need to empower them to focus more on on-the-ground activities. To support this, reducing the administrative burdens faced by project leaders is essential, allowing them to dedicate more time and energy to impactful conservation work. Streamlining these processes is critical to sustaining their efforts and effectively addressing the growing challenges in biodiversity preservation.
The event underscored the importance of coordinated efforts and open dialogue among conservation actors involved in managing calls for proposals. A key focus was on strengthening the capacities of local organisations – empowering them to build lasting resilience and sustainability in their conservation work.
The BESTLIFE2030 Programme reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovative solutions and delivering measurable impacts through every project it supports. The insights gained from this event will directly inform future strategies and partnerships, ensuring even greater success in addressing conservation challenges.
