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In 1990, the Cook lslands Government (CIG) sought the assistance of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) on a number of environmental initiatives. This led to the inclusion of the Cook Islands in a Regional Environmental Technical Assistance Project (RETA) which was being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). with support of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). aimed to strengthen the environmental management capability of its Pacific Island member countries. The ADB appointed the SPREP as its executing agency for the RETA.

The Government of Solomon Islands recognises the importance of our environment to the health, welfare and economic development of the nation and for that reason Cabinet endorsed the development of a National Environmental Management Strategy(NEMS) in 1991. The Environment and Conservation Division within my Ministry has responsibility for manage- ment of the environment of Solomon Islands. However, the environment and environmental issues cut across all sectors and hence Cabinet recommended that a National Task Torce on Environment and Sustainable Development be established to oversee the development of the NEMS. The other ministries in- volved in this Task Force are: Home Affairs. Tourism and Aviation, Finance and Economic Planning, Education and Human Resources Development, Provincial Government, Health and Medical Services, and Office of the Prime Minister.

This document outlines the new programme-based approach that has been adopted for the SPREP Secretariat. This new approach to regional delivery is both more innovative and strategic than the project-based approach previously practiced. It provides clear, measurable indicators of the progress and impact of the Secretariat’s work in the region. This is an important element of the Secretariat’s efforts to encourage long-term collaboration with existing and new partners.

This paper contributes to the current review of regionalisation and decentralisation that aims to improve the performance of the Secretariat and the governance of the Union. The current distribution of Secretariat presence is uneven throughout the world, and appears to be based more 011 historical accidents than a matching of resources with needs to achieve the goals of the IUCN Programme. The absence of any Secretariat presence 111 Oceania may be part of this accident of history, or does it reflect instead the absence of need? To answer that question we analyse the situation in the region, comment on regional capacities to address conservation needs, describe the current status of IUCN components in Oceania, identify where IUCN input would be most effective, and conclude that there is a strong case for establishing an IUCN Secretariat presence based in the Pacific islands subregion.

The Action Strategy for Nature Conservation in the Pacific Islands summarises the most urgent actions needed for conservation of the rich biological heritage of the Pacific islands over the next four years. As the only regional planning document that focuses on nature conservation, it summarises the views of key stakeholders, including representatives of community, national, regional, and international groups.