Response

PURPOSE OF PROJECT

Earth’s aquatic ecosystems are deteriorating quickly. There is increasing pollution and decreasing bio diversity. There are many international conventions driving regional and local marine policy but we see a need to build in better recognition and use of indigenous knowledge with scientific knowledge for the integrated management and governance of aquatic ecosystems to allow for resilient and sustainable solutions. There is an imperative to align economic interests with environmental responsibility. We want to motivate case studies and action research that demonstrates best practice in these areas as a positive example for reproduction.

The privileging of indigenous knowledge is to address the dominance of applying ‘western’ science to the environmental crisis, to counteract persistent systems of fragmentation by examples of whole system approaches to governance and management of water, and, in the situation of poorly developed policy, to give input and leadership from practice and research on effective ecosystem protection and enhancement of biodiversity.

The purpose of the project is to bring whole systems thinking and integrated governance into the field of aquatic ecosystems in the Pacific region. The purpose is to bring together contributors with experience and knowledge of water systems, with leadership in fields relevant to the ecology and biodiversity of water and its management. It is anticipated that exchanges of information will contribute to the fields of work of participants, and that it will inform the proposed case studies or research. It is a relational approach to knowledge, research and governance in which diverse interests are interwoven.

Accordingly there will be contributions from indigenous leaders and practitioners, with the anticipated involvement of relevant Environment departments/ministries and agencies including NIWA, SPREP, SOPAC. as well as independent contributors. The project is for 30-40 participants.

OBJECTIVES

The meeting in Samoa is to bring participants together for a forum on water ecosystems, with presentations reflecting particular fields of activity and expertise. The forum will provide the opportunity to share knowledge and experience, identify shared goals and support beneficial collaboration in ongoing projects and research.

Expectations for Meeting
We envisage that at the meeting in Samoa participants will give a presentation based on their field of work relating to the health of water systems. The meeting will include provision for discussion, questions, and for interdisciplinary dialogue.

We are aware of the large scope of the Across Oceania imaginary, and want to emphasize that we are not seeking to be inappropriately ambitious: rather that participants will contribute in a way that is integrated with work commitments and that reflects a realizable project. A project may not be complete in the time nominated and could be ongoing. An evaluative report during a period of up to 5 years will be a welcome contribution to the initiative.

Some specific objectives for the meeting
· A forum for exchanges of knowledge of aquatic ecosystems of the region
· The wisdom of elders to be shared and for an intergenerational dimension of knowledge exchange to be supported

· Building the capacity for those from non-indigenous cultures to work respectfully with indigenous world views and knowledge.

· Participate in nurturing a ‘mind of the land and of water’ and of social systems that are integrated with this world view.

· An interdisciplinary forum for various interests in water are brought together

· Beneficial exchanges of experience and knowledge between participants

· Identification of case-studies or action research projects

· Formation of a steering group(s) for supporting follow up and implementation

· Cultivation of an ethos of responsibility for aquatic biodiversity in Pacific sites

· Nurturing an oceanic imaginary

Case Studies and Action Research following the Samoa Meeting
It is envisaged that case studies or action research projects which correspond with customary and/or professional interests and commitments, may be undertaken over 5 years or so. Case studies will link with work already being done such as the NOAA marine reserve and Indigenous National Monument, in Hawaii, Mataitai in NZ and marine reserve at Mapua, the Nari Nari role with the Murrumbidgee River and legal research on aboriginal water management in Australia, Along with continuity with existing work there will be the likelihood of innovations coming through the Samoa meeting and follow up process, with the possibility of emergent projects. It is imagined that case studies and research will engage with the potential indigenous knowledge such as mãtauranga Mãori, as well as with science for the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems in the region.

Objectives for case studies
· Elevation of indigenous knowledge of water ecosystems in practice, governance and management

· Building the capacity for those from non-indigenous cultures to work respectfully with indigenous world views and knowledge for environmental outcomes

· Participate in nurturing a ‘mind of the land and of water’ and of social systems that are integrated with this world view.

· Systems which advance the health of water ecoystems

· Examples of the integration of environmental and social dimensions in governance and management of water

· An account of projects through reporting and/or meetings would be part of the expectation, to correspond with reporting on project undertakings – in a chosen medium (writing, photography, art forms).

SOME KEY QUESTIONS

The working group has identified some phrases and questions which can be referred to selectively, to guide planning for presentations and projects):
· Principles for integrated governance

· Ethical processes for informed decision-making

· How can the role of indigenous people and the status of indigenous knowledge in governance be advanced?

· In what ways can indigenous knowledge and practices be brought to environmental management and biodiversity enhancement?

· How can the interests of management, such as Social Enterprise, or fields of social policy such as Health and Education, become consistent with sustainability goals and with integrated governance?

· How can responsibility for environmental/aquatic systems be harmonized with social justice and cultural revitalization?

· What methodologies can be engaged with for interdisciplinarity in aquatic biodiversity programmes and governance?

· How can economic interests and needs be aligned with environmental priorities?

· What systems can be advanced in the interests of aquatic biodiversity that are driven by collective responsibility for water as a common good, rather than by individual entitlement and market interests?

· According the environment the status of a governance partner, often represented through the role of kaitiaki, in order to provide space to be taught by the environment and prioritize environmental interests

OUTCOMES

Beneficial outcomes for the health of water ecosystems are being sought, in sites associated with participant responsibilities. In addition to identifiable environmental outcomes, contributions to policy development will be sought in the countries concerned, as well as contibutions to systems for integrated governance and management.
Anticipated outcomes:
· Contributions to policy development, governance and systems for integrated management

· Development of an ethic of collective, shared responsibility for environmental outcomes

· Intermediate meetings may be held locally to support participant projects

· Ongoing support for project undertakings to be provided by steering committee, as agreed

· Dissemination of material pertaining to the project in ways relevant to participants. This might include local –level material or publications, academic publications, multimedia presentations

· Filming is being discussed, with a view to a documentary resource.

· An edited publication from contributors is to conclude the project.

The latter point is to highlight innovative ways of working, to find ways to engage actively with indigenous world views at all levels, including governance, and to support a world view in which human interests are ‘decentred’ in favour of regard for the fullness of the biodiversity of the living world.

THE SYMPOSIUM IS DESIGNED AS A ROUND TABLE PROCESS INVOLVING MULTICISCIPLINARY TEAMS ADDRESSING KEY QUESTIONS, WITH PROVISION FOR EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ACROSS DISCIPLINES.

Draft Programme for the Symposium 26 – 30 January 2008
The Agenda is designed in reference to Dialogue as shared inquiry through thinking and reflecting together (W. Isaacs), Integrated Knowledge Management Systems (W Allen and M. Kilvington) and Complexity Theory ( M Wheatley). A provisional structure is anticipated as:
Day One:
o Late afternoon welcome
o Opening Plenary Tuia Tua Tupua Tamasese Efi
o Introductions of participants
o Evening Event – Overview of Climate Change and effects for the Pacific

Day Two:
o Morning Plenaries and Responses. Topics include:
o International conventions pertaining to Oceans such as UNCLOS, Biodiversity
o Overview of National Oceans and Water policies, including Fisheries
o Integrated governance including collaborative participation of interested parties
o Engaging ecosystems science and indigenous knowledge for environmental outcoimes including biodiversity enhancement
o Afternoon:
o Synthesising information
o Begin addressing key questions. These have been identified as:
· Principles for integrated governance including ethical processes for informed decision-making

· Supporting indigenous knowledge and practices in environmental management and biodiversity enhancement

· How can the interests of management, such as Social Enterprise, or fields of social policy such as Health and Education, become consistent with sustainability goals and with integrated governance?

· How can responsibility for environmental/aquatic systems be harmonized with social justice and cultural revitalization?

· What methodologies can be engaged with for interdisciplinarity in aquatic biodiversity programmes and governance?

· How can economic interests and needs be aligned with environmental priorities?

· What systems of collective responsibility for water ecosystems can be advanced for water as a common good,, in the context of commodification and market interests?

· According the environment the status of a partner, in order to provide space to be taught by the environment and prioritize environmental interests

o Evening Event

Day Three:
o Interdisciplinary Round table process on key questions – continued
o Design programmes on pricniples of integrated governance for Enviornmental Responsibility
o Identification of case-studies or action research projects
o Initial Implementation strategy and follow up plans
o Working with Ethics of Responsibility

Day Four

o Final round tables on key questions
o Review implementation strategy and follow up plans
o Preliminary plans for contributions for edited publication
o Identification of steering group, or local leadership for follow up
o Concluding Plenary
o Closing Farewells