The 9-day Workshop on Heritage/ Environment Impact Assessments for the Pacific Island States (thereafter referred to the Workshop) was launched in Suva on 20th November 2017.

Twenty-Five Professionals from 13 countries take part to this Workshop: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Fiji Government warmly welcomed the participants. H.E. Mr. Iowane TIKO, permanent secretary of Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts of Fiji and Ms. Sachiko HARAGUCHI, from UNESCO World Heritage Centre, addressed the participants in the Opening Ceremony, emphasizing the relevance of culture and heritage for sustainable development. The Workshop is an important capacity-building activity carried out in the framework of the Pacific Action Plan 2016-2020 (thereafter refer to the Action Plan).

In the following days, the participants will have the opportunity to share their knowledge of heritage management systems based on their professional experience on the field, and to participate in a series of workshop sessions focusing on conservation methodology related to Management Planning, and on Heritage and Environment Impact Assessments provided by international and Fijian experts. The sessions are illustrated by practical cases and will build upon the field analysis of the first Fijian World Heritage property Levuka Historical Port Town. The participants are expected to acquire an understanding of the key issues regarding Heritage management, methodology and progress of H/EIA, as well as of link between nature and culture, and tangible and intangible components, with a specific focus on the role of social aspects and of the local community.

Figure 1 – Mr. Iowane TIKO, permanent secretary of Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts of Fiji

Figure 2 – Mr. YABAKI, Director of Department of Heritage and Arts, Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts

Figure 3 – Ms. Sachiko HARAGUCHI, UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Figure 4 – Opening Ceremony

Figure 5 – Participants at the Training Workshop