FOCUS-IN Events

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Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum 2024

Location: Natadola, Fiji
Date: August 6-9, 2024

Overview:

The Host Nation of Fiji and United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) will host the 2024 IPESF in Natadola, Fiji in August 6-9 2024. The 2024 IPESF will focus on national resilience and humanitarian assistance through environmental security. The 2024 IPESF general themes can be inclusive of, but not limited to, the following topics: • Water Security and Public Health (i.e. safe drinking water, water resource protection and management, water supply and storage management, wastewater management) • Natural Resource Conservation, Protection, Restoration, and Management (i.e. Biodiversity conservation, addressing wildlife trafficking and crimes, integration of ridge to reef and traditional methodology practices) • Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness, and Response (i.e. disaster preparedness education, people-centered early warning systems and services, disaster policy, disaster response training, and hydro-meteorological services) • Boosting National Resilience and Adaptation to end Poverty (i.e. resilient basic infrastructure, nature-based solutions and the blue economy, key industry business continuity planning)

The Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration and The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change

• Agenda
• Information Paper
• Administrative/Travel Notes
• Event Booklet

Coastal Resilience Workshop (CRW)

Location: Kolor, Palau
Date: Sep 12 - Sep 14, 2023

Overview:

Coral reef, seagrass, mangrove, salt marsh and other coastal ecosystems are critical to biodiversity, addressing climate change, food security, economic well-being, and coastline stability for many countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The CRW will engage coastal ecosystem subject matter experts, both from military and civilian agencies, on coastal ecosystem protection and restoration best management practices, and discuss research and development needs and knowledge gaps around coastal ecosystem protection and restoration. The CRW will be a three-day workshop with presentations from Indo-Pacific stakeholders and subject matter experts, working group exercises, and networking.

USINDOPACOM

• Information Paper
• Agenda
• Administrative Brief
• Event Booklet

2023 Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum (IPESF)

Location: Sri Lanka
Date: Aug 14 - Aug 17, 2023

Overview:

The 2023 IPESF will emphasize the following themes: 1) Climate Change and Security; 2) Maritime, Ocean & Water Security; 3) Impacts of Urbanization & Land Security; 4) Planning for National & Regional Resilience; and 5) Women, Peace, and Security. Participants will take part in presentations, panel sessions, and workshop activities to share lessons learned and best practices among environmental security stakeholders. The IPESF will also include a site visit and two field-based workshops. Access the presentations here: Event Presentations

Sri Lanka Navy and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

• Information Paper
• Agenda
• Administrative Brief
• Event Booklet

Invasive Species Forum (ISF)

Location: Tamuning, Guam
Date: Jul 17 - Jul 19, 2023

Overview:

The Government of Guam and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosted the first Invasive Species Forum, with support from the Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program (SERDP).

Government of Guam and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum 2022

Location: Maldives
Date: Aug 1 - Aug 4, 2022

Overview:

The eleventh Indo-Pacific Environmental Security Forum was held 01-04 August in the Maldives. This year’s presentations, panel sessions, and workshops emphasized 1. Climate Security Challenges and the Role of Defence Forces; 2. Oceans and Water Security; 3. Small Island Nation Concerns and Security; 4. Women, Peace, and Security; and 5. Climate Challenges and Solutions. This forum created opportunities to discuss mutual environmental security challenges and to collaborate with other nations on achieving countries’ environmental security goals. Attendees also contributed to three-year plans for the mitigation, networking, education, and policy working groups as well as develop impactful environmental security projects for their countries.

Maldives National Defence Force

• Agenda
• Event Booklet
• Information Paper
• Storyboards
• Photo Summary
• Administrative/Travel Notes

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2021 Pacific Environmental Security Forum

Location: Virtual
Date: Feb 22 - Feb 25, 2021

Overview:

The 2021 Virtual Pacific Environmental Security Forum took place 22-25 February (US time, 23-26 February elsewhere) on an interactive online platform. The working group lead organizations for the Pacific Environmental Security Partnership each led a day for the Forum: 1) Mitigation Working Group: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM); 2) Policy WG: New Zealand Ministry of Defence; 3) Networking WG: Australian Defence Force; and 4) Education WG: Arizona State University’s Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. Event activities included presentations, panel sessions, networking opportunities, topical “lounges,” expo “booths,” and collaborative project development planning.

USINDOPACOM

• Agenda
• Event Booklet
• Information Paper

2019 Pacific Environmental Security Forum

Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Date: May 21 - May 24, 2019

Overview:

The 2019 Pacific Environmental Security Forum took place 21-24 May in Wellington, New Zealand. It was the ninth annual environmental security event, which was organized by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT). The event brought together partners from across the Indo-Pacific region to discuss climate security, resource protection, biosecurity, multilateral cooperation, and environmental security transformation. Event activities included presentations, panel sessions, work group activities, a site visit, and other exercises.

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

• Administrative Guidance
• After Action Report
• Agenda
• Environmental Security Exercise Maps
• Event Booklet
• Information Paper
• Presentation Summaries
• Storyboards

2018 Northeast Asia Regional Environmental Security Forum

Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Date: Sep 18 - Sep 21, 2018

Overview:

The 2018 Northeast Asia Regional Environmental Security Forum took place 18-21 September, 2018 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It was the eighth annual environmental security event, which was organized by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and the Mongolia Ministry of Defense (MOD). The event brought together partners from Northeast Asia and beyond to establish and maintain a habit of environmental security dialogue, discuss food-water-energy nexus challenges in Mongolia, and the relationship between environmental security and contingency operations. Event activities included presentations, panel sessions, work group activities, a site visit, and other exercises.

• Administrative Guidance
• Agenda
• After-Action Report
• Event Booklet
• Information Paper
• Presentation Summary
• Storyboard

2018 Coral Triangle Initiative Table-Top Exercise

Location: Manado City, Indonesia
Date: Jul 31 - Aug 3, 2018

Overview:

The Regional Maritime Environmental Security Information Sharing Workshop and Table Top Exercise occurred 31 July 2018 – 03 August 2018 in Manado City, Indonesia. The main objective of the event was to strengthen capabilities to enhance maritime environmental security by identifying information sharing methods and techniques that are available to counter Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing in the Indo-Pacific region. The event included a Table Top Exercise designed to develop techniques to track vessels in the maritime domain focusing on fishery management zones, national parks, and the Sulu-Suluwesi seascape. The TTX also developed an agreeable list of information data to share, media in which to share, and formulated a plan to determine how security interdiction and response work both regionally, nationally, and trans-boundary. Lastly, the workshop provided examples of current fusion cells, developed a list of best practices, and developed structured analysis techniques for information fusion.

Mongolia Ministry of Defense

• Table-Top Exercise Handouts
• Table-Top Exercise Scenario Presentation
• Environmental Security in the Indo-Pacific (Sholes)
• Environmental Security Challenges to the Coral Triangle Region (Nora)
• Fusion Centers (Heuett)
• Importance of Fusion Centers (Merritt)
• Maritime Domain Awareness (Merritt)
• Pacific Disaster Center (Batzel)
• SeaVision (Heuett)
• Link Between Fisheries Management and Maritime Security (Parks)
• ThaiMECC (Kittipong)
• VIIRS (Baldin)
• Marine Resource Scarcity, Fisheries Conflict and Maritime Insecurity (Pomeroy & Parks)
• Philippines Coast Guard (Philippines)
• Indonesia's Fight Against IUU FISHING (Husein)
• National Coast Watch System (Philippines)

2017 - Pacific Environmental Security Forum

Location: Nadi, Rebuplic of Fiji
Date: May 24 - May 27, 2016

Overview:

The 2017 Pacific Environmental Security Forum took place May 9-12, 2017 in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. It was the seventh annual environmental security event organized by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). The event brought together partners from across the Pacific to tackle environmental security concerns. Event activities included presentations, panel sessions, work group activities, a site visit, and other exercises.

USINDOPACOM

• Agenda
• Event Booklet
• After Action Report

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2016 Maritime Environmental Security Workshop (MESW)

Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Date: May 24 - May 27, 2016

Overview:

The 2016 Maritime Environmental Security Workshop (MESW) was held September 7-9, 2016 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The workshop identified and addressed environmental security strategies to enhance marine resource protection, and foster civilian-military cooperation in environmental security in Southeast Asia with regard to illegal fishery practices, wildlife protection, and food security. Workshop topics emphasized 1) Marine Resource Protection and Maritime Security, 2) Sustainable Maritime Economic Development, and 3) The Military’s Role in Wildlife Protection and Food Security. Event activities included a site visit, work group exercises, expert presentation and panel sessions and presentations to showcase current and future efforts.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces

2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum

Location: Nadi, Rebuplic of Fiji
Date: May 24 - May 27, 2016

Overview:

The 2016 Oceania Regional Environmental Security Forum took place May 24-27, 2016 in Nadi, Rebuplic of Fiji. The forum was hosted by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) J4. The event included 105 participants from 18 countries and focused on the themes of Sustainable Ocean Resources, Protecting the Coastal Zone, Resiliency to Extreme and Frequent Weather Events, and Regional Project Collaboration.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces

• Agenda
• Event Booklet
• After Action Report

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2015 Pacific Environmental Security Forum

Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Date: Jun 8 - Jun 11, 2015

Overview:

The 2015 Pacific Environmental Security Forum took place June 8-11, 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum was hosted by the Thailand Ministry of Defence in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) J4. The event was attended by 115 participants from 22 countries and focused on climate change, protection of the commons, military environmental programs, and project concept development.

Thailand Ministry of Defence

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2014 South Asia Regional Environmental Security Forum

Location: Kurumba, Republic of Maldives
Date: Jun 2 - Jun 5, 2014

Overview:

The 2014 South Asia Regional Environmental Security Forum took place June 2-5, 2014 in Kurumba, Republic of Maldives. The forum was hosted by the Maldives National Defence Force in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) J4. More than 80 participants from eight countries attended the event which focused on operationalizing water security, waste management, resource protection, and energy.

Maldives National Defense Force

• Documents
• After Action Review
• Agenda
• Presentation Summaries
• Event Booklet
• Table Top Exercise
• Storyboard
• Participant Evaluation Forms
• Daily Notes
• Press Release

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2013 Pacific Environmental Security Forum

Location: Sydney, Australia
Date: Apr 16 - Apr 19, 2013

Overview:

The 2013 Pacific Environmental Security Forum took place April 16-19, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. The forum was hosted by the Australian Department of Defence in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) J4. More than 85 participants from 18 countries in the Pacific AOR attended the event which focused on military resilience to climate change, environmental sustainability, biosecurity and disaster management.

Australian Department of Defence

• AAR
• Agenda
• Presentation Summary
• Environmental Sustainability Workshop Summary
• Storyboard
• Event Highlights
• Press Release
• Participant Evaluations

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2012 Southeast Asia Regional Environmental Security Conference

Location: Natadola, Fiji
Date: Apr 2 - Apr 5, 2012

Overview:

The 2012 Southeast Asia Regional Environmental Security Conference took place April 2-5, 2012 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The forum was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonesia in partnership with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) J4. More than 140 participants from 12 countries, ASEAN, and the United Nations attended the event which focused on civil-military cooperation on environmental and disaster management issues in Southeast Asia.

Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonesia

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