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Natural World Heritage in Oceania

Natural and mixed World Heritage (WH) has generally not been a success in the Oceania region, due to limited support at all levels, unrealistic expectations about what WH can and cannot deliver, and a lack of resources to support all aspects of the WH process, particularly WH site management. This report assesses the implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Oceania in relation to natural and mixed WH sites. It outlines recommendations which will, if applied, contribute to the more effective implementation of natural WH in the Pacific region. 

New IUCN report identifies challenges and opportunities for Natural World Heritage in Oceania ahead of UNOC3

The Pacific region has witnessed some of humanity's greatest achievements. It is a vibrant tapestry of diverse cultures and languages and holds immense global significance for its biodiversity and geodiversity. Despite this, it remains very poorly represented on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Ahead of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, IUCN launches a new report which advocates for a substantial increase in resources to ensure that the heritage of Pacific Islanders is internationally recognized and fosters greater prosperity. 

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BioTIME is designed especially for scientific synthesis studies with research questions about global biodiversity. We believe that data is valuable and should be made usable. Our database contains tables on species abundances across time and space, as well as important metadata about the taxa, habitat, and sampling methods. This is all made possible by our data contributors.

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MPA Enforcement Toolkit

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are essential for conserving marine biodiversity, ensuring sustainable fisheries, and maintaining the health of ocean ecosystems. They also provide economic and cultural benefits, including ecotourism opportunities and the preservation of livelihoods for coastal communities. However, merely establishing an MPA is generally insufficient to secure these protections and benefits.

Partner support and interactions with communities show mixed effects on governance of community-based resources

Community-based natural resource management is recognized as an effective area-based conservation approach. Accordingly, conservation organizations worldwide are providing support to local communities seeking to sustainably manage and use their local natural resources. However, there is little understanding of how different types of support provided by partner organizations influence local community governance of these resources.

Nature-Related Finance and Indigenous Peoples

This briefing provides an overview of the interlinkages between the financial sector, nature and Indigenous Peoples. It summarizes UNEP FI’s views of the outcomes and recommendations of sessions on these themes within the Finance & Biodiversity Pavilion at CBD COP16 in Cali, and is prepared for use by UNEP FI members and others in the financial system engaged in nature-related activities willing to reorient their approach and learn more on engaging with Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendent Peoples and local communities.

The Database of Island Invasive Species Eradications (DIISE)

Islands are at the forefront of the global extinction crisis, with invasive vertebrates posing a significant threat to native flora and fauna. The removal of these invasive species is crucial for the restoration and protection of island ecosystems, helping to prevent extinctions and promote biodiversity!

Island Conservation hosts an invaluable dataset to help show the impact of this key environmental intervention: the Database of Island Invasive Species Eradications (DIISE).