Page 26 - Islands Business October 2023 edition

International, M. Sanjayan, expresses
Niue Launches Ocean Protection Funding Initiative
Niue, a small island nation in the
South Pacific, is taking a bold step
towards its ambitious conservation
goals with a first-of-its-kind sustainable
funding initiative to safeguard its
sovereign waters: Ocean Conservation
Commitments.
Ocean Conservation Commitments
or OCCs are innovative financing
mechanisms that fund the protection
of 1km² of Niue’s ocean territory for 20
years, as well as foster a sustainable
blue economy for the people of Niue.
During the launch of the programme
in New York in September, Niue’s
Premier, Hon. Dalton Tagelagi,
announced that the Government of
Niue will sponsor nearly 1,700 units,
or one for each resident of Niue. This
important initiative will be managed by
the Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust,
which is establishing an endowment of
at least US$18 million to directly fund
Niue’s conservation efforts. The NOW (L-R) Chuck Fox - Oceans 5 CEO; Coral Pasisi - Tofia Niue President and Climate
Change and Sustainability Director at the Pacific Community (SPC); M. Sanjayan,
Trust is a New Zealand Charitable Trust
Ph.D. - Conservation International CEO; and Niue Premier - Hon. Dalton Tagelagi at
established by the island nation’s first
public-private-partnership between the (OCC) in New York.
Government of Niue and Tofia Niue (a
local non-profit organization)—this after
seven years of successful collaboration.
Niue’s marine territory is 1,200
times larger than its land mass. Its
enormous marine reserve, the Moana
Mahu Marine Protected Area spans
2
127,000km —constituting 40% of
Coral Pasisi, President of Tofia Niue presents the Ocean Conservation Commitment (OCC)
sponsorship mechanism which will be managed by the Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust.
26 Islands Business, October 2023
the launch of the Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust and Ocean Conservation Commitment
Niue’s Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ)—and is a sanctuary to pristine
coral reefs, undersea mountains and
diverse marine life such as sharks,
whales, dolphins, manta rays, and turtle
species. By sponsoring the OCCs and/
or making general donations, you will
play a pivotal role in preserving Niue’s
pristine marine ecosystems for the
betterment of its people and the global
community as a whole.
There are 127,000 OCCs available for
sponsorship—and sponsorship of 1 OCC
is US$148 (NZ$250), which enables
sponsors to become direct contributors
to Niue’s marine conservation, climate
resilience, sustainable development
efforts, and associated outcomes.
Donors may sponsor one or more
OCCs; each representing the cost of
2
protecting and managing 1km of Niue’s
ocean territory. At the moment, several
NGOs and private donors have already
committed to sponsor the first OCCs,
which include the Blue Nature Alliance;
cryptocurrency company founder, Chris
Larsen and his wife, Lyna Lam; and
Sponsored Content
his elation: “Even the smallest
nations can make global waves.
Congratulations to Niue, whose
leadership in conservation is proving
that our 30x30 ambitions are entirely
attainable when we unite governments
and private funders around innovative
funding,” adding that “we hope other
island governments seize the historic
momentum to protect the pristine
beauty and life-sustaining bounties of
our ocean.”
Meanwhile, the Government of Niue
is encouraging individuals, corporations
and foundations, multi-laterals and
The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern GNZM (first row, 2nd from left) joins the Niue bilateral development partners to
and Blue Nature Alliance/Conservation International launch team.
support Niue’s conservation efforts
Conservation International. knowledge and practices in park by sponsoring its OCCs through the
“The proceeds raised through the management. Ultimately, this approach NOW Trust website or by direct enquiry
OCC sponsorships will be held and to funding marine conservation via with the NOW Trust. It also notes that
managed by the Niue Ocean Wide OCCs will empower Niue to build a all contributions made are strictly for
(NOW) Trust, and they will be used to climate resilient and sustainable blue conservation and cannot be used as
fund a range of conservation, resilience, economy to ensure long-term durability,” a financial or tradeable product like
and sustainable development Premier Tagelagi continued. carbon credits—and does not grant
efforts that reinforce durable ocean Blue Nature Alliance Steering Council ownership or claims over any ocean
conservation and sustainably manage member and CEO of Conservation real estate.
the island’s Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) and Territorial Sea (TTS), all of
which are part of the Niue Nukutuluea
Multiple-Use Marine Park, established
in 2022,” says Premier Tagelagi, adding
that “as a small island nation, Niue’s
vast marine territory holds immense
ecological, cultural, and economic value
to our people; the ocean is everything
to us.”
He also affirms that with the
establishment of the Niue Nukutuluea
Multiple-Use Marine Park last year and
culminating with the launch of the OCC,
Niue has established itself as a small
but important global leader in ocean
conservation.
The OCCs’ funding will enable Niue to
accomplish various conservation efforts
in its marine environment, such as
improving community participation and
monitoring, strengthening control and
surveillance capabilities for compliance
and enforcement.
“Niue will now have the ability to
implement monitoring and evaluation
activities to assess reef health and
fish stocks and strengthen coastal
management plans for the island’s 14
villages. Moreover, we are keen to also
fund ocean conservation education
programmes and scholarships for
Niuean children and community A scenic/nature shot of one of Niue’s multitude of beautiful reef pools that surround the island,
members, as well as promote traditional visible clearly at low tide. Photo: Kylie Evans
To learn more about the NOW Trust and/or sponsor an OCC, please visit www.niueoceanwide.com