Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) met this week in Apia, Samoa, for the Subregional Dialogue on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting, a technical exchange aimed at strengthening national implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).

Building on past regional and subregional dialogues, the meeting brought together government representatives, technical experts, and regional organizations to identify challenges, share lessons, and co-develop solutions. With countries currently developing national monitoring plans and preparing their seventh national reports, discussions centered on enhancing the use of indicators, strengthening monitoring systems, and improving the use of the CBD’s online reporting tool.

The dialogue produced four main outcomes:

• Improved capacity for national biodiversity monitoring and indicator development;
• Increased preparedness for submitting the seventh national report;
• Stronger regional collaboration in biodiversity monitoring and reporting;
• Clearer opportunities for donors and partners to provide technical and financial support.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership participated in the meetings, represented by Adrien Moineau, regional facilitator for the Pacific, and Eva Gurría, Partnerships and External Relations Lead. Adrien is working closely with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Pacific countries to provide targeted technical support and facilitate matchmaking between country needs and available solutions. The engagement builds on the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s commitment to advancing NBSAP implementation in close coordination with regional partners.

The dialogue reaffirmed the critical role of SPREP, an institutional member of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. As the main regional environmental body in the Pacific and a CBD Subregional Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC) Support Centre, SPREP supports coordination among island nations, promotes climate-biodiversity integration, and drives long-term implementation of the GBF through institutional and technical cooperation.

Amanda Wheatley, Biodiversity and Ecosystems Adviser at SPREP, noted that “the collaboration between SPREP and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership will enhance support for faster implementation of biodiversity targets,” adding that “cooperation, coordination, and knowledge sharing are essential to advancing NBSAPs in the Pacific region.”

The dialogue was preceded by  the Climate and Nature Nexus Workshop, co-organized by SPREP, UNEP, the CBD Secretariat, and the Government of Samoa. The workshop emphasized the need for integrated approaches and sustained collaboration across the biodiversity and climate agendas, an approach already gaining traction in the Pacific.

The subregional workshop and dialogue reflected the ongoing efforts to strengthen technical cooperation among key partners. As the UN entities hosting the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, UNEP and UNDP continue to contribute to advancing NBSAPs through regional collaboration, capacity-building, and country support. Their joint engagement with the CBD Secretariat, SPREP, and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership represents a growing effort to foster more coherent and responsive support to Pacific countries as they implement the Global Biodiversity Framework.

For additional highlights from the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s participation in the subregional dialogue and workshop, see our LinkedIn post, featuring Adrien and Eva’s reflections from Samoa.

Want to follow the Pacific region’s progress—and that of other countries—as we work together to accelerate action for biodiversity? Subscribe to the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s mailing list and stay informed about how collective action is driving change. Learn more about the Facilitator Programme by visiting our website.