Tahiti – Tiaki Moana Summit and OECM Workshop
The Tiaki Moana Summit and OECM Workshop was held in French Polynesia from Sunday 23 March to Sunday 30 March 2025. Tiaki Moana means to care for the ocean or to be a guardian of the ocean. The Blue Cradle Foundation, a New Zealand based not-for-profit organisation and IUCN member coordinated the event. It was an IUCN supported event and PEW Charitable Trusts sponsored NAILSMA to attend as the sole IUCN IPO member for Oceania. You can view the Tiaki Moana video below
The conference intended to support people’s understanding and the advancement of Marine Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) for the Pacific.
The 5 themes discussed were:
Defining and implementing marine OECMs
Indigenous and Local Knowledge
Existing Marine Management Tools
Innovative and Sustainable Approaches
Governance and Future Generations
Approximately 150 attendees from French Polynesia, Northern Marianna Islands, Guam, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tuvalu, Niue, Rapa Nui, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Micronesia, Kiribati, Palau, and New Caledonia including a delegation of 42 Young Pacific Leaders.
Other Effective Conservation Measures
The Convention on Biological Diversity definition of OECMs is a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and, where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socioeconomic, and other locally relevant values.
The difference between Protected Areas and OECMs - Protected areas must have a primary conservation objective. The defining criterion of an OECM is that it should deliver the effective and enduring in situ conservation of biodiversity, regardless of its objectives.
OECM Mind Map
While OECMs can be a tool for countries to meet their 30x30 targets, be a connection piece between protected areas and recognise the work being done by Indigenous people and private land managers, stakeholders still hold confusion about OECMs including qualification requirements, the benefits and funding. The event was successful in bringing together people from the Pacific to connect, share, learn and strengthen the collective ocean conservation efforts and cultures across the pacific.
Presentation by Erica McCreedy
Session Theme: Governance and Future Generations – Erica facilitated a session based on the question of ‘How do we utilise global mechanisms to support Indigenous outcomes directed by Indigenous people on the ground?’ The discussion highlighted Indigenous Governance and addressed the way in which Indigenous people are required to challenge the systems they work within to ensure Indigenous-led knowledge and solutions are front and centre. Regarding the origins of OECMs and the Global Biodiversity Framework targets that mention Indigenous people (8 of 23), Solomon Pili Kahoʻohalahala “Uncle Sol” highlighted that “Indigenous people were never part of these policies and if we are to break out of these, we need to acknowledge that these policies are not reflected of who we are.”
Thank you to Blue Cradle for hosting this gathering and bringing together our people from across the Pacific.
