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Pacific islands convene to address environmental woes By MARIAN A. MARAYA
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Posted on Aug 03 2000
Close to 70 participants representing island entities from all over the Pacific came together for the inaugural day of the 14th Annual Conference of the Pacific Basin Association of Conservation Districts held at the Hyatt Regency Saipan yesterday.
Guests from American Samoa, Guam, and Pohnpei received a warm welcome from CNMI PBACD and local government officials led by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and PBACD President Patrick Calvo.
The ongoing three-day meet has been slated to address timely and pressing natural resources issues besetting the Pacific region.
The theme for this year’s meet is “Collaborative Approaches to Meet Island Environmental Challenges in the New Millennium” and features panelists from CNMI’s Department of Lands And Natural Resources, Department of Public Health, US Army Corps of Engineers, Northern Marianas College, and the Solid Waste Management Task Force.
DLNR Secretary Joaquin Tenorio, in his welcome address, underscored the need for collaboration among island nations in addressing environmental woes.
“Collaboration is not a new concept. As we enter a new millennium, we need to note and acknowledge that no organization can stand alone and expect to achieve set goals without some form of partnership or collaboration with others,” Dr. Tenorio explained.
He cited efforts between the Division of Agriculture and the Saipan and Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District to include the Kagman Irrigation program, the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, and the Planting material program.
According to Dr. Tenorio, the collaborative efforts are focused toward achieving sustainable agriculture, conservation of natural resources, and finally protection of island, environment or ecosystem.
Yesterday’s panel discussion centered on the Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) cleanup in Tanapag with presentors from DPH, DEQ, and FHP Pacific Care.
Today, Dr. Tenorio is set to spearhead a discussion on the Upland Mitigation Bank with Senator Pete P. Reyes and US Fish and Wildlife Director Richard Seman.
