HAPPENINGS

Last week, the Pacific Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network held its first in-person meeting in Honolulu. The group included 18 total participants from this community of practice (11 members of the core team and 7 members of the science team), with representatives sent from American Samoa, Palau, RMI, Guam, CNMI, and Hawaii. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the intersection of climate change and invasive species in the Pacific region, share knowledge and successful strategies as well as regional needs and concerns, and come up with future goals and objectives for Pacific RISCC. It was also the first time many group members could meet in person after many months of virtual monthly meetings.

The three-day meeting included an excursion to the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, short presentations, small group discussions, facilitated conversations, regional updates, and a ranking of regional priorities. Participants also discussed regional challenges, such as the lack of funding, capacity, infrastructure (internet bandwidth), training opportunities, and experts, especially in USAPI regions like Palau, and how Pacific RISCC can help.

The meeting’s results will inform a manager survey to assess regional concerns and needs, which will be shared with the network later in the year. The regional priorities will also inform a future action plan and mission statement for Pacific RISCC, including an update to goals and activities.

The meeting was made possible by funding from the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC).