Pacific wetlands scientist Bindiya Rashni delivered a strong appeal against deep-sea mining at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), speaking on behalf of biodiversity and ethno-biodiversity experts from 22 Pacific Island countries.
Addressing delegates in Nairobi recently, Rashni emphasized that the deep-sea zone of the South Pacific is more than an ecological system, describing it as a sacred and interconnected space central to Indigenous identity, culture, and survival. She characterized the ocean floor as a “biocultural bank” that must be preserved for future generations.
