The Ocean and Islands Programme (OIP) provides vital applied ocean, island and coastal geoscience services to SPC member countries. These technical services are strategically deployed in response to member requests for assistance in the development, management and monitoring of natural resources and unique island environmental systems and processes.
We help members to better:
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Govern and develop their natural resources;
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Increase their resilience to natural hazards;
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Access data-based approaches to adaptation.
Services
OIP is unique in the region. We maintain and deliver specialist skills, tools and services through flexible, integrated approaches designed to meet the needs of pacific island communities and environments. OIP is committed to bringing these services to members in an effective and timely manner. We continually strive to build "hands-on" capacity in the countries where we work, in all sectors of ocean and island applied geosciences.
Some of these services include:
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Ocean and coastal resource characterisation, resource use solutions, monitoring and development;
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Provision of science-based ocean and coastal policy and governance support and advice;
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Provision of strategic communication and advocacy for coastal and ocean resource policy;
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Strategic alliances with regional and international parters in technical, research and development assistance;
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Capacity building via specific initiatives or through "hands-on" joint implementation of works;
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Science-based vulnerability assessments particularly in shoreline and coastal zones;
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Science-based adaptation responses;
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Continued secure investment in instrumentation, tools and support services as the only regional technological facility in geoscience.
Critical Issues
In addition to the above, the following five critical issues are embedded throughout the OIP's work program:
- Coastal development, Urbanisation and Vulnerability
- Maritime Boundaries
- Climate Change and Adaptation
- Natural Resource Development
- Information Management and Analysis
The strong applied geoscience capacity of OIP also provides support for scientific and research interaction with other regional and international technical entities. We maintain a number of unique research and development partnerships, acting as a conduit for improved understanding of pacific island research needs to development partners and the international arena. OIP will continue to create, maintain and disseminate geoscience knowledge to provide technical advice to pacific island governments and to support policy development and decision making.
