6 February 2025, Suva Fiji – The pressing environmental challenges in coastal management amidst an escalating climate change crisis was the focus of the Pacific Islands Geographic Information System (GIS) & Remote Sensing User Conference, which brought together over a hundred participants from diverse sectors in Suva Fiji.
Centered on the theme "Sustainable Management for Coastal Areas through Remote Sensing and GIS," the conference served as a vital platform for knowledge sharing, technological advancements, and regional collaboration.
The Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources of Fiji, Honorable Filimoni Vosarogo, opened the conference as the Chief Guest. He highlighted the critical role of geospatial technologies in national development, emphasising their importance in decision-making, resource management, and policy implementation, particularly in addressing the unique challenges faced by Pacific Island nations.
Other keynote speakers underscored the critical role of GIS and remote sensing in sustainable development. Professor Surendra Prasad, Head of the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean, and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS) from the University of the South Pacific (USP), highlighted the importance of academia in advancing these technologies.
Mr. William Romine, Deputy Affairs Officer from the US Embassy, emphasised international collaboration as a key driver in enhancing GIS and remote sensing initiatives through strategic partnerships, particularly in addressing shared environmental challenges.
Their insights reinforced the vital role of academic contributions and global cooperation in advancing geospatial technology across the Pacific.
The 5-day event, held from 25-29 November 2024, at the Japan ICT Centre, USP, provided abundant networking opportunities, enabling participants to connect and explore potential collaborations amongst government officials, academics, and industry professionals. Throughout the conference, attendees engaged in key sessions that examined innovative remote sensing techniques for coastal monitoring and effective GIS applications in marine resource management.
Additionally, hands-on workshops provided participants with vital skills in advanced remote sensing analytics and GIS software.
A key highlight of the conference was the participation of the GIS team from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Ms. Kasaqa Tora, Spatial Analysis Specialist, and Ms. Vani Koroisamanunu, Environmental GIS Specialist.
Their presentations focused on how geospatial technologies empower Pacific countries by supporting natural resource management, disaster risk reduction, and environmental conservation. They highlighted SPREP’s ongoing efforts to enhance GIS capacity in the region through training programmes and access to regional geospatial platforms.
"The conference was a great opportunity to learn new tools and enhance my GIS capacity through workshops and training sessions," said Ms Tora.
Furthermore, community initiatives, such as the Community of Oceania Geospatial (COG) and the Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network (PIURN), were highlighted as key drivers of collaboration and education in geospatial fields across the Pacific.
"The conference served as a key platform for organisations like SPREP and geospatial experts to exchange knowledge, network, and collaborate, strengthening a regional GIS community to drive sustainability," said Ms Koroisamanunu.
The 2024 Pacific Islands GIS & Remote Sensing User Conference reaffirmed the crucial role of geospatial technology in sustainable coastal management and laid the foundation for future initiatives aimed at improving climate resilience across the Pacific region.
SPREP’s participation was made possible through funding support from the Emma Luke Project, alongside contributions from SPREP programmes funded by the European Union (EU), the Pacific Bioscapes Project, and the African Caribbean Pacific Multilateral Environmental Agreements (ACP/MEA3) Programme Phase 3.
To find out more about the Emma Luke Project, please contact Mr. Vainuupo Jungblut at vainuupoj@sprep.org
For the ACP/MEA3 project, please contact Mrs. Anastacia Amoa-Stowers at anastacias@sprep.org
For the Pacific Bioscapes project, please contact Mr. Ettienne Delattre at etienned@sprep.org