Powering Locally Led Inclusive Community Based Conservation, Research and
Sustainable Development Approaches Blue Pacific.
Speaker: Rachel Sapery-James (Senior Manager Blue Pacific, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF))
Recording Date: 25th July 2024
The recording for this webinar is now available here.
Brief Abstract:
Rachel will delve into the transformative ambition of WWF’s Blue Pacific Programs, her leadership to
elevate traditional Indigenous knowledge and inclusive conservation practices. Prioritising local leadership, value systems, and the revitalization of customary governance, ensuring that both People and Nature thrive across the Pacific. The discussion highlights the urgent need to enhance cultural ompetency among staff and practitioners, raising awareness and advocating for the decolonization of erspectives and approaches. By empowering First Nations, local communities to lead and design conservation effort, be active leaders in design architecture of research and development programs, we foster a more collaborative approach and long-lasting solutions. Key themes include: Bridging Western science with traditional wisdom to bolster community climate resilience, Inclusive Ocean Science Academia Training, Community-based fisheries and marine ecosystems management in Melanesia (PNG, Solomon Islands and Fiji). Through policy engagement and respectful meaningful long-term partnerships, we will showcase three case studies demonstrating the successful implementation of these inclusive and community-led initiatives. A climate lens remains central to all our efforts, ensuring sustainability and climate resilience.
Girringun: Nguri - Indigenous rangers tell ancient stories of the Great Barrier Reef | WWF-Australia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2b_e5NOylw
WWF Pacific – WWF Solomon Islands – Western Province Seascape, Scaling Sustainable Sea-grapes - Community Based Management https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBqzHi4jDXE
WWF Pacific – WWF Solomon Islands - A Blueprint for a People and Nature Positive Pacific - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_PZdve3nyI&t=27s
Sea Women Melanesia Papua New Guinea Sea Women of Melanesia 2021 Champion of the Earth - Inspiration and Action - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHx0rrWZmI8&list=PLgo8ocnrcJsuFc-YEZS9-DeSrJpgVIPHH
Bio:
Rachel Sapery-James is a Marine Biologist specializing in Social Environmental Systems and addressing complex challenges affecting both communities and nature. Her work focuses on leveraging Nature Solutions and Indigenous Knowledge to tackle the Climate Crisis, thereby enhancing Community Resilience throughout the Blue Pacific. Rachel earned her MSc from Bremen University’s ZMT in Germany.
She also completed a postgraduate research diploma and post graduate research certificate in sea cucumber aquaculture hatchery and juvenile grow-out techniques at James Cook University. Additionally, Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Aquaculture from James Cook University in
Townsville.
