The Inform Project Regional Meeting provided a platform to highlight notable achievements and valuable lessons learned throughout its implementation period. Held on 20 – 21 June, in Nadi, Suva, the meeting presented an array of opportunities that strengthened collaborative partnerships between Member countries and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Through interactive discussions and presentations, several success stories, insights, and experiences at the national level were shared, showcasing the tangible results achieved. Notable achievements included the establishment of the network of national environment data portals in fourteen Pacific Member countries, namely, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, which has a significant impact on data accessibility and sharing.
"The Papua New Guinea Environment Portal has provided an excellent platform for environmental data access and sharing. Notably, the portal has significantly increased the visibility of our work. Its pivotal role is evident in the development of the PNG State of Environment Report,” said Mr. Richard Balone, a representative from Papua New Guinea.
The implementation of national environmental data portals, has revolutionised data management practices, making valuable information readily available to stakeholders. According to Ms. Bineta Boraia from Kiribati, “The capacity building training conducted under the Inform Project have empowered environmental officers stationed in the outer islands of Kiribati to contribute valuable data and information to the Kiribati Environment Portal. This has resulted in a significant enhancement of our data collection efficiency”.