This year, we featured the successful Pacific Ecological Security Conference, which Pacific RISA led last October in the Republic of Palau. Outcomes from the conference, which included Strategic Action Plans that highlight how the failure to adequately address invasive species in Pacific Island ecosystems weakens the resilience of communities and ecosystems to cope with the impacts of climate change, are already being used to drive legislative and policy outcomes, and are being referenced in regional and international calls for action and funding around invasive species.

“The Pacific is at the frontline of the climate crisis, and invasive species only further undermine the resilience of our ecosystems. Now more than ever, addressing invasive species should be at the forefront of our priorities and this meeting was a positive step forward to jointly ensure there is a strong regional coordinated approach to these critical threats.” ~ Gibson Susumu, Programme Lead for Sustainable Agriculture, The Pacific Community

The report covers some of Pacific RISA’s new research projects, including PI Dr. Kirsten Oleson’s ecosystem-based adaptation work on Kaua‘i that is forging connections with local community groups and the county Planning Department. Ongoing research related to climate early warning systems, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, and hydrologic modeling for compound climate events is also included. The report concludes with an assessment of the team’s adaptation and policy impacts, and our sustained climate assessments work that has most recently produced the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment report for the Federated States of Micronesia.

Learn more about Pacific RISA’s latest achievements and check out our report today!

Featured image: The Pacific RISA visited Ngkeklau in 2022 to look for remnants of the Beng, a traditional Palauan fishing weir.