The long term goal

Sustainable development depends on 3 pillars:
- a prosperous & peaceful
society
- a healthy environment
- a vibrant economy

What we do

How we work in the South Pacific

With such a large combined sea area WWF South Pacific has over the past 10 years largely focused its’ efforts on conservation and natural resource management of the marine environment.

The programme aims to advocate the development and implementation of sound policies and strategies relating to sustainable marine resource management and biodiversity conservation and to empower key stakeholders and practitioners to implement them effectively, with a shared vision of :

‘Supporting Pacific Island people to conserve and sustainably manage our natural inheritance for present and future generations’.

At a national level, efforts have been directed at supporting community-based marine resource management, national marine policy advocacy and turtle conservation.

Given the vast size of the ocean and the number of territories in the Pacific Islands region, it is also important to scale up national efforts by influencing policies and agendas at the regional level. As well as providing a regional advocacy role, WWF South Pacific also provides a supporting, coordination, capacity building and fundraising role across the South Pacific.

A Community-based approach in the Pacific

Livelihoods and natural resources are interconnected

The community-based approach to conservation is the hallmark of WWF's work in the Pacific region. Recognition that the communities' livelihoods, customs and traditions are intertwined with natural resources is the basis of this approach to conservation.

WWF believes effective sustainable livelihood, development and conservation efforts happens most successfully when community groups adopt conservation initiatives and make their own management choices.

Experience with local leadership in community-based conservation indicates clearly that sustainability depends on local residents having the necessary skills to lead and manage activities on their own.

Through its programmes, WWF builds the convervation practioners skills at comunity level and establishes a network of community based organisations which are dedicated to learning collaboratively and achieving best practice in conservation action.

Poverty Alleviation and the Environment

Poverty is often a consequence of degraded rural environments resulting from unsustainable human activity.

Environmental sustainability is a major factor in poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods in the Pacific region. To reduce poverty, WWF leads capacity building at community and government levels enabling pacific peoples to participate in local, national and international plans, policies and strategies.

The livelihoods of most pacific peoples revolve around the sea. WWF works as closely as it can with communities to enable them to earn money sustainably, without excessive and irreversible damage to the environment.

Environmental decline not only undermines sustainable livelihoods and impacts the rural poor by disproportionately affecting their health, basic needs and security, but also aggravates poverty in already stressed urban environments.

About WWF South Pacific:
- Contact Us,
- Jobs.
What we do:
- Climate Change,
- Coastal Management,
- Coral Triangle,
- Marine Species,
- Offshore Fisheries,
- Events.
Media:
- Publications,
- News,
- Subscribe.
You Can Help:
- Volunteer.