The national fleet of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) highly depends on imported fuels and is therefore a significant source of GHG-emissions. The bilateral program “Transitioning to Low Carbon Sea Transport (LCST)” implemented by RMI and the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) aims at supporting the RMI Government´s planning and decision-making processes with respect to its low carbon future and the reduction of GHG-emissions from domestic sea transport, through consultancy, research, training, coordination of policy support to RMI and supporting in delivering RMI’s commitments under UNFCCC to achieve reduced GHG emissions from domestic shipping 40% below 2010 levels by 2030 and full decarbonization by 2050.

The Marshallese Government founded and is an active member of the High Ambition Coaltion for Shipping (SHAC) at IMO and UNFCCC and due to their ambition, the group of supporters of an ambitious contribution of sea transport to the climate goals is growing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international meetings and high-level conferences are taking place remotely to a high extend.

Ri Majol, the people of the Marshall Islands were known for their superior boat building and sailing skills for centuries. They traveled frequently between their atolls (for trade and war) on big offshore canoes called Walap (some of them 100ft long). The lagoons of their low-lying coral atolls where crested by sails of smaller outrigger canoe designs for rapid inside lagoon transportation, food gathering and fishing. Together with Waan Aelõñ in Majel, we are reviving the traditional knowlege combined with modern technology. The ambitious goals of the Marshall Islands in the sea transport sector have become the main driver and motivation for us to pursue and to transition towards a low carbon fleet for the Marshall Islands for transport inside the lagoons and between atolls. Currently, a 150 ft. Training Vessel is about to be constructed and delivered to RMI by the 2nd half of 2022. After the agreement of the design, the market survey process started with the objection to identify shipyards that are interested and capable of building the new built as drafted in the tender design. The Maritime Training Approach in the Marshall Islands sets a clear focus on Low Emission Sea Transport Education and will train future sailors as part of the national fleet operators.

The charapa (Podocnemis expansa) in the indigenous cosmovision is related to the origin of the people, especially the Miraña, they say that an ancestral god gave them to the grandchildren to feed them. In addition, it has healing powers that are associated with the ecosystems that the species uses to carry out its reproduction, that is why the charapa is present in their dances and rites. Its consumption is allowed under regulations contemplated in a cyclical calendar that mixes ecology and conservation with the indigenous cosmovision and that establishes management, because if they abuse its consumption, diseases are attracted to the territory. The conservation of the charapa is a successful result and has been achieved thanks to community monitoring coordinated by PNN and PANI. The community has been sensitized and use agreements have been made to ensure that the turtle population is maintained or increased. This work has allowed the participation of one of its indigenous people in an exchange of experiences with ongoing projects in Colombia and other countries, as well as their participation in a scientific article published by several South American authors.

Women are part of the governance of Cahuinarí NP, under the regulations that govern the community. They play an important role in the economic, educational and productive fields, and are relevant in the economic support of the family. They are in charge of managing the chagra (Chagra = Food = Life) where knowledge is transmitted to the younger generations. Children are taken to the chagra from a very early age and at around 5 or 6 years old they begin to participate in the cleaning and harvesting of the chagra.

Environmental education is also carried out by the women; it is a very interesting exercise in which they are the teachers and in order for their work to be successful, they receive help in the construction of training plans and the use of technological tools from the PNN team, which is in charge of providing training to improve their skills.

There are several exercises that take place within the framework of the implementation of the REM, for example, the Prevention, Control and Surveillance tours that are carried out inside and in the area of influence of Cahuinarí NP and that are part of the institutional mission of PNN.

It is the traditional person who decides whether or not the tour can be done and under what regulations. The interesting thing about this exercise in the PA is that the traditional and cultural component has been included in the tours, which is why, prior to each outing, a night meeting is held so that in the midst of the wisdom of the mambe, the ambil and coca, the tour that is going to be done is conjured.

At the end of each Control and Surveillance tour, the results of the exercise must be socialized and discussed in a meeting under the same conditions as the initial one, and it is also used to try to find out if anyone in the team has contracted any disease before returning home. This is due to the fact that many places in the territory where the tours are conducted are sacred sites and if there is not a good preparation or disposition it is very likely that some type of disease is acquired, therefore the traditional one must conduct a night session of mambeo after these tours to "get the possible disease out of the body".

Building trust and generating good relations with the indigenous communities during the construction of the REM was possible thanks to the interaction that was maintained with them through meetings, events generally held in a maloca where the mambe and the ambil were the catalysts for a harmonious exchange of knowledge.

The NEPL NP is located in one of the most remote parts of the country, far away from the key tourism hubs and airports. To attract visitors to this remote part of the country, clear marketing, excellent reputation and collaboration with the TOs and Travel Agents are essential.

The Seabird Habitat Restoration Project was based on a very strong scientific foundation.

The geology, flora and fauna of Montague Island Nature Reserve is relatively well studied as the island has been an important site for environmental monitoring and research for decades. It boasts the world’s longest continuous seabird monitoring program in the world. Therefore, much was known about the species present, their population dynamics, biology and ecology. This baseline information was important in understanding the impact of the kikuyu on seabird breeding success.  Scientists had documented the significant impact of the invasive kikuyu grass on increased mortality of Little Penguins and determined the percentage cover of kikuyu that caused significant problems.

Scientific knowledge was critical in the development of the project objective and scope.  Scientists from universities and NPWS who were experts in the field of island ecology and seabird biology worked together to identify the most effective method to control kikuyu grass through field trials. They undertook specific research projects and monitored seabird populations and weed distribution.  This formed the basis of post graduate Honours and PhD research projects to determine suitable methods of control for use on Montague Island.

The success of this project was due to the full support and long-term commitment from all levels of NPWS to a bold vision for an ambitious conservation program.  Eradication of mice and rabbits and control of invasive weeds on a relatively large remote island could not be achieved through half measures and was critical to protect this internationally significant site for breeding seabirds.  However, a project at this scale had not previously been undertaken in NSW. Organisational commitment ensured the project was prioritised for long term (10 year +) funding and that staff with the right skills and experience were assigned to this project. Partnerships with universities and community organisations were supported and valued. It also meant that NPWS was willing to take risks and try innovative approaches e.g. using fire to control kikuyu grass.

Involving local communities was a key element of our work in Congo from the beginning and, in 2010, The Aspinall Foundation was able to create a more formal structure with the establishment of PROFADELLL (The Project, in Favour of Local Development in Periphery of the Natural Reserve of Gorillas Lésio-Louna). Its aim to support communities on the outskirts of the enlarged Lésio-Louna Reserve with a comprehensive community programme to enable local people to benefit from, and become custodians of, their environment.  The programme was in place for a period of ten years with positive results and elements such as the eco-tourism product are ongoing.