Our mission
To safeguard Pacific biodiversity through coordinated, indigenous-led, and science-grounded conservation across the 22 island countries and territories of the Pacific.
Vision
A Pacific where nature and people thrive together — where reefs, forests, and traditional knowledge are passed on stronger than we received them.
How we work
Convening
We host the biennial Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation — the regions flagship gathering of 200+ practitioners, ministers, and indigenous leaders. Between conferences, six thematic working groups convene quarterly to advance shared priorities, joined by ad-hoc dialogues across all 22 island countries and territories.
Working groups
Six thematic groups carry the day-to-day programme: Marine, Terrestrial, Climate, Indigenous knowledge, Youth, and Funding & Policy. Each is co-led by member organisations and meets quarterly to align field projects, share methodology, and surface advocacy priorities for the coalition. See our working groups →
Field action
Member organisations run conservation projects on the ground — locally managed marine areas, reef monitoring, terrestrial restoration, traditional knowledge documentation. PIRT coordinates the shared methodology, pools data into a regional dashboard, and channels coalition funding to fill site-level gaps.
Governance
PIRT operates under a steering committee of representatives from its 18 member organisations. The Secretariat is hosted by SPREP in Apia, Samoa. See governance for the full structure.
History
The Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation has met every two years since 1998.
- 1998PIRT founded
Inaugural Pacific Islands Conference convenes at Apia, Samoa with 9 founding member organisations.
- 2008Coalition expanded
Membership grows to 14 organisations; first dedicated Secretariat established at SPREP.
- 2018PIELA awards launched
First Pacific Islands Environmental Leadership Awards held at PIC9, Suva.
- 20242024–2028 strategy adopted
Five-year strategic plan endorsed at PIC10, Apia, Samoa.
- 2026PIC11 in Noumea
11th conference convening 200+ delegates 7–11 September in New Caledonia.