An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

U.S. Indo-Pacific CommandUSINDOPACOM

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Search

Search
Search

-  Home		 
-  Leadership    -  Commander         
  -  Deputy Commander         
  -  Chief of Staff         
  -  Senior Enlisted Leader 
-  About USINDOPACOM    -  History         
  -  USPACOM Area of Responsibility         
  -  USPACOM Previous Commanders         
  -  Women, Peace and Security 
-  Organization    -  Organization Chart 
-  Media    -  News      -  Spotlight 
  -  Photos         
  -  Speeches / Testimony         
  -  Freedom of Information Act      -  FOIA - Reading Room         
    -  Submit FOIA Request         
    -  Request Status         
    -  FOIA FAQS 
-  Resources    -  Travel Requirements         
  -  Useful Theater Information         
  -  FAQ         
  -  Useful Links 
-  Newcomers		 
-  Contact    -  Directory         
  -  Media Inquiries         
  -  Industry Engagements 
-  JTF - Red Hill		 
-  JTF-Micronesia		 

Home : Media : News : News Article View

# Securing Tomorrow's Environment

By Justin PummellArmy Corps of Engineers

**NADI, Fiji – **
The importance of protecting the environment for future generations rang loud and clear at the 2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum (RESF).  The event, sponsored by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), brought together 19 countries and over 100 participants to discuss environmental security topics relevant to small island nations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  Civilians, military and police officials gathered to discuss best practices and lessons-learned related to ocean sustainability, coastal zone protection, disaster resiliency, and regional environmental security project development.  Representatives from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Timor L’este, Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu, and others were in attendance.

“The Regional Environmental Security Forum is an outstanding collaborative venue to share lessons learned across joint services, intergovernmental, interagency and multi-national partnerships,” stated Brigadier General Jeff Milhorn, Commander, Pacific Ocean Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  “We are then able to transition from a community of interest into a community of action, honing in on topics of direct response and future focus areas of potential civil-military cooperation and collaboration.”

The RESF featured subject matter expert presentations, work group activities, panel sessions, a site visit to Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, and a workshop on Illegal, Unreported and/or Unregulated (IUU) fishing.  Participants also shared poster boards on ongoing or active environmental security projects, and held side discussions on partnering and collaboration.  “The interagency cross-talk, as well as the ability to learn from some many different countries, was tremendous,” stated LTCOL Jone Tavainavesi from the RFMF.  “When you think of the environment, the military is often left out of the conversation.  However, we have a lot to offer, and this forum helped emphasize the opportunities for partnership in Fiji and beyond.”

Each day of the event featured a senior civilian or military leader to moderate an environmental security theme.  The *Sustainable Ocean Resources* day was chaired Deputy Assistant Secretary Russell Smith from the US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Dr. Sangeeta Mangubhai from the Wildlife Conservation Society – Fiji led the *Protecting the Coastal Zone* theme.  *Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events* was guided by Commodore Ian Murray from the Australia Defence Force.  Commodore Murray emphasized in his theme introduction, “Climate change is a threat-multiplier, which can undermine cultural, social, political, economic and environmental systems.  As a consequence, the ability of vulnerable communities to manage, adapt and recover from these threats is greatly dependent on resilience.” Commodore Murray went on to state that, “we cannot replace like with like.  We must build back better.”**

Moving forward, USPACOM will continue to partner with RFMF, as well as others, by fielding projects on the topics discussed at the RESF.  This includes potential collaboration on oil spill response, waste management, alternative energy solutions, maritime security, disaster risk reduction, and integrated water resource management.  “We are going to take the great ideas developed from the forum, prioritize them, and move out with implementation in the coming months,” stated Mr. Christopher Sholes, USPACOM’s Environmental Program Manager.  “We will utilize experts from across the DoD enterprise to start working with other militaries and civilian institutions to bring action.”
 The RESF will continue next year.  USPACOM plans to start planning for the 2017 Pan-Pacific event next week by identifying the next host and generating appropriate themes.  You can learn more about future planning efforts and USPACOM’s environmental security forum by visiting http://www.pesforum.org. 

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT