Page 16 - Islands Business October 2022

BE A GOOD ANCESTOR

PROTECT OUR LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

In the Pacific, the moana (ocean) does not divide A Blue Carbon Economy for the Pacific
our islands, it unites us.

For centuries, Indigenous peoples have recognised Now, more than ever, as the oceans of Hinemoana
that the oceans are a creative force of nature and form are rising, the peoples of the Pacific are also rising
the foundation of our blue planet. We have enjoyed to combat climate change. There is no more time for
a special relationship with the gods of the oceans, debate. We must act today.
including Hinemoana, the progenitor of the whales
and other taonga (keystone) species. Next month, at COP27 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt,
Conservation International will launch the
Our oceans play a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative to deliver this new
climate and can help reduce climate change by storing and vital partnership with Indigenous Māori tribes
large amounts of carbon, absorbing approximately a to provide ocean climate leadership in coordination
quarter of atmospheric carbon created by people. with Pacific leaders from across the region.

However, the ocean is warming and rising. Every Our shared goal is to advance a region-wide
day Pacific peoples face unprecedented threats to movement to reconnect with our common ocean
our way of life. Every day, the mauri, the life force, heritage and legacy as kaitiaki (guardians) of our
and halo of Hinemoana, also becomes increasingly moana and taonga species.
depleted.
Hinemoana Halo will promote self-determination
Recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate among Indigenous peoples to protect, manage
Change) and United Nations reports have highlighted and monitor their coastal waters and high seas
how traditional knowledge systems could do more in partnership with local communities, using both
to address climate change than many current traditional approaches and current science.
approaches. While at the same time, the momentum
to ensure the full and equitable inclusion of So this endures, Hinemoana Halo will involve a
Indigenous peoples within climate change policy and sustainable financing mechanism that delivers marine
global leadership continues to increase. protection and provides direct benefits to Indigenous
people, from jobs to infrastructure and opportunities.
After decades of advocacy, there is growing
international support and recognition that promoting Hinemoana Halo is focused on promoting
the recovery of Indigenous cultures and ocean inter-indigenous economic relations and trade across
biodiversity is intimately linked with mitigating the Aotearoa and the Pacific.
impacts of climate change.
Contact us to learn more.

Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative

Hinemoana Halo is looking for nature-positive investors interested in partnerships with transformation
potential, long-lasting, and well-funded to make a positive impact. We acknowledge the challenges,
but we fully believe that conserving, protecting, and restoring Blue Carbon ecosystems needs to
become an integral part of mitigation and carbon stock conservation plans nationally, across the
Pacific region, and globally.

Contact: asiapacific@conservation.org

Sponsored Content
16 Islands Business, October 2022
HH IB Article Full Page CI 2022.indd 1 10/21/22 4:45 PM