International Biodiversity Day 2023: Message by the UN Resident Coordinator Micronesia
It is Biodiversity Day, today May 22, 2023.
Today, I am visiting the Utwe, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve in Kosrae, Micronesia, which is one of only three Biosphere Reserves in the Pacific States. The Utwe Biosphere Reserve is home to over 335 species of fish, 180 coral species and ecosystems such as tropical rain forests, wetland forests, sea grass beds and marine lakes. This is one of the many beautiful sites in the Pacific where marine species are endangered and need our attention.
Biodiversity Day is an opportunity to realize the importance of protecting these resources for our sustainable future.
Every year, almost 8 million tons of plastic end up in the world’s oceans. Pacific waters are not immune from this problem. Increased use of plastic and poor waste management is threatening our neutral ecosystem and biodiversity. Therefore, we urgently need to reduce and reuse plastic to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment and biodiversity.
By addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and overcoming pollution, and ocean degradation, we can achieve food security and sustainable development and also save our environment from depleting.
Several Micronesian states have taken concrete steps such as marine biodiversity conservation & sustainable fisheries, strengthening bylaws and regulations related to fisheries, limiting invasive species and increasing awareness of communities regarding biodiversity, pollution and climate change.
The UN has been supporting improved biodiversity conservation with increased coverage of terrestrial and marine protected areas in Micronesia. In RMI, an additional 26,691 ha of land gained protection through the development of the Resource Management Plan. Similarly, in Kiribati, an additional 245,170 ha were protected with three bylaws and enforcement of the Coastal Fisheries Regulation.
The United Nations will continue to support these actions through the country implementation plans that we are currently signing with the governments of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati.
Finally, the UN is working on the Pacific Biodiversity Action Plan that will lay out key areas and priority actions for the UN’s support to the region and promote regional collaboration and coordination. The plan will be used to inform the Asia Pacific Regional Commission, next year 2024 and shared with all Pacific Member countries.
Thank you!
Jaap van Hierden
United Nations Resident Coordinator for Micronesia
