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Photo Caption: Professor Transform Aqorau poses for a group photo with the SPREP Director General Mr Sefanaia Nawadra and his team
The Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Professor Transform Aqorau, welcomed the Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, to SINUโs Kukum Campus to discuss key areas of collaboration aimed at advancing climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and traditional knowledge integration in education.
Central to the discussions was the establishment of the Centre for Islands Futures at SINU. The Centre will serve as an academic and research hub dedicated to addressing the unique environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by island nations. One of its flagship initiatives will be the development of a Diploma Programme in Islands Systems and Knowledge, which aims to integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary scientific approaches to sustainability and resilience.
โSPREP and SINU have been actively engaging in the integration of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation,โ said Professor Aqorau. โThis ongoing partnership aligns with our shared vision to strengthen climate resilience through education, research, and community engagement.โ
Discussions also highlighted the progress on the Traditional Knowledge and Coastal Resilience initiative, a collaborative effort between SPREP and the Solomon Islands Government. This project aims to integrate indigenous knowledge systems with scientific research to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable fisheries, and ecosystem restoration.
Key components include:
– Documenting Indigenous Knowledge: Partnering with local communities to record traditional marine conservation practices and establish a digital knowledge repository at SINU.
– Coastal Ecosystem Restoration: Restoring degraded coastal environments through a combination of traditional and modern conservation techniques, such as mangrove planting and coral reef rehabilitation.
– Community-Driven Sustainable Fisheries: Implementing marine conservation zones that respect traditional marine tenure systems and educating communities on aquaculture opportunities.
– Education and Knowledge Transfer: Developing university courses that blend traditional ecological wisdom with scientific research, fostering the next generation of climate resilience leaders.
– Living Labs for Conservation: Providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences where students, researchers, and indigenous communities collaborate on conservation projects.
The meeting also addressed SINUโs role in hosting the Pacific Ocean Climate Change Conference (POPCCC) in 2026, a significant regional platform for climate discourse and policy development. The biennial conference, which has previously been held in Samoa, brings together policymakers, scientists, academics, and community leaders to discuss climate change impacts and adaptation strategies tailored to Pacific Island nations. The 2026 conference at SINU will serve as a key milestone in fostering regional collaboration on climate resilience, with a focus on integrating traditional knowledge into climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.
The collaboration between SINU and SPREP is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which provides a framework for academic exchanges, joint research, and policy engagement. The MoU also emphasizes capacity-building initiatives and the development of sustainable education programmes tailored to Pacific Island environmental challenges.
โThe partnership between SINU and SPREP is a testament to the importance of integrating traditional wisdom with modern scientific approaches to address pressing climate and environmental challenges,โ added Professor Aqorau. โWe look forward to strengthening our collaboration and ensuring that Pacific communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the future.โ
This partnership is set to reinforce SINUโs position as a leading regional institution for climate change research, education, and policy development, ensuring that Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific region remain at the forefront of sustainable development and resilience-building efforts.
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