Today’s Living Planet Report paints a sobering picture: wildlife populations across the world are in severe decline.
The causes are familiar to us – habitat loss, degradation, and unsustainable practices, particularly in food production.
These pressures have led to a staggering 60% decline in monitored wildlife populations across Asia Pacific.
If we do not act, we risk tipping points that could not only destroy ecosystems but also threaten the stability of our communities.
These challenges are not theoretical or distant. We see it here in the Pacific, where coral reefs – our vital source of food and protection – are under extreme pressure. Climate change-induced heatwaves are bleaching coral reefs, leaving them vulnerable to overfishing and pollution.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that a global temperature rise of just 1.5°C could result in the loss of 70-90% of coral reefs. This loss would be devastating for the 330 million people who rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.
However, not all is lost.
Communities across the Pacific are demonstrating how effective local leadership can be in conservation.
In Papua New Guinea, locally-led marine protected areas have successfully revived fish populations. By drawing on local knowledge and respecting traditional practices, these communities have established no-take zones, enabling the recovery of species like grouper.
The Solomon Islands, as a founding member of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, has achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification for its skipjack tuna fisheries, preserving the region’s valuable tuna stocks for future generations.
In Fiji, our communities also face these dual threats of overharvesting and climate change. On Kavewa Island, that is situated along the third longest continuous reef system in the world and provides over 50-% we have blended ancestral knowledge with modern conservation to protect the environment.
The traditional practice of tabu has been strengthened through the formal declaration of a 70-hectare community protected area around Nukuvadra and Katawaqa.
These protected islands are home to vital mangrove habitats, coral reefs, seagrass meadows and endangered hawksbill turtles.
Already, the benefits are visible: more fish in our waters, baby sharks returning to the reefs, and livelihoods becoming more sustainable. This success tells us that conservation efforts rooted in local knowledge and leadership are not only possible but essential for our future.
This was the strong message from the "Oceania First Voices" forum held in March 2024, where representatives reaffirmed that their traditional knowledge is crucial in tackling the crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean degradation. This is recognised in Target 22 of the United Nations’ Global Biodiversity Framework, that 196 countries committed to delivering by 2030, which emphasizes the importance of indigenous leadership in conservation.
But communities cannot do this alone. Governments must step up their commitments. Even where national biodiversity and climate plans are in place, many countries are far behind in meeting their targets.
A key issue is the lack of financial resources. Although US$200 billion was pledged in 2022 to meet global biodiversity goals, with US$20 billion earmarked for developing countries, much of this funding has not reached the Pacific. Without it, global goals – such as protecting 30% of our lands and oceans by 2030 – will remain out of reach.
The way forward is clear: conservation efforts must be led by the communities that have always cared for these lands and seas. Governments must work together with local leaders to ensure that these efforts are supported, amplified, and funded. The future of our environment and our people depend on it.
Let us move forward with unity and purpose. Our communities have the wisdom and strength to lead. Together with the support of governments, we can secure a future where both people and nature thrive.
By Duncan Williams, Interim Conservation Programme Manager, WWF-Fiji; Grace Nugi, Conservation Programme Manager, WWF-Papua New Guinea; and Henry Kaniki, Conservation Programme Manager; WWF-Solomon Islands