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SPREP Director meets with FSM environmental council

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): July 15, 2005 - Asterio Takesy, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) was recently in the Federated States of Micronesia where he met with the national council on environment.

The Director highlighted for members of the Sustainable Development (SD) Council, SPREP's new approach to environment sustainability: A Strategic Plan and a Action Plan. An approach he said is inclusive of issues and inputs from the SPREP member countries.

According to Director Takesy, the 10-year Strategic Program has a focus that is more comprehensive and easily measures. He said SPREP aims to achieve these programs through the five-year regional Action Plan which sets out "the priorities of the region in terms of environmental threats, reporting, support for member countries and capacity building."

The two plans would be the guideline by which SPREP would provide assistance to its member countries.

Director Takesy encouraged the Council to look to the guidelines in their ongoing efforts to ensure a viable and sustainable environment for the future development of the FSM. He told the Council that an implemental plan focused on the integrity of the environment would ensure sustainable development of the nation.

The success of the plan would, according to Takesy, depend on the commitment by the community, "unless and until a community is committed to the principles of sustainability," as outlined by the leaders and implementing agencies, it would be "virtually impossible" to achieve sustainability of the environment.

Takesy urged the Council to provide a completed profile of the FSM development plans to SPREP so that the program has a comprehensive idea of the FSM's various pockets of needs.

The Director concluded his briefing by encouraging more Micronesian citizens to be involved in the regional agencies.

Takesy is the first FSM citizen to head the regional inter-government organization of SPREP, which is set up to look after the region's environment. Its members are 22 Pacific islands countries and territories, plus Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States.