1.8.1 Training and capacity-building

The Pacific Regional Seabird Action Plan1 highlights the importance of capacity building and collaboration with Pacific Island nations and communities through two objectives:

Objective 1: Increase capacity for monitoring and managing seabird populations at community and national levels

Objective 2: Enhance national, regional, and international collaboration

Each objective has specific actions and indicators. Those relevant here are as follows:

1. Help communities to build skills and knowledge in mapping, recording, and monitoring seabird populations, and to participate in conservation programmes (e.g. access to expertise and resources, including possible exchange programmes with countries that have greater expertise).
   (i) Communities supported to build knowledge and skills to manage conservation of seabird colonies, e.g. exchange programmes.
2. Encourage the transfer of seabird knowledge and expertise between projects through exchange opportunities for conservation workers.
   (i) Exchange opportunities are provided for conservation workers.

Figure 26. Searching for Vanuatu Petrel burrows around Qwelraqraq, Vanua Lava. Photo: Monash University.