“GOC-TNC Partnership, a natural fit,” says Stewart
The Games Organizing Committee (GOC)’s partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Solomon Islands is a natural fit.
GOC Chief Executive Officer Peter Stewart highlighted this at a brief meeting held to formalize and strengthen the partnership between GOC and TNCSI, describing it a natural fit.
The partnership began in August of this year following the ‘Mascot’ naming competition in which TNCSI was the major sponsor.
“The 2023 Pacific Games is so pleased to be entering into a partnership with The Nature Conservancy.
“The fact that Solomon Islands represents the largest turtle hatchery in the pacific and the fact that the Games Mascot is a sea turtle itself – makes the link between the Games and TNCSI a natural fit.”
“The fact that Solomon Islands represents the largest turtle hatchery in the pacific and the fact that the Games Mascot is a sea turtle itself – makes the link between the Games and TNCSI a natural fit.”
Mr. Stewart said that through the partnership, GOC is hopeful that the messages Solo can help spread throughout all of Solomon Islands and the rest of the Pacific will help protect all sea turtles for many years to come.
TNC Solomon Islands Country Director Willie Atu said that as soon as a sea turtle was chosen to be the Games Mascot, TNCSI came forward straight away to sponsor its naming.
“We’ve been working with sea turtles in Solomon Islands for the last 30 or so years. All turtles are endangered species and here in Solomon Islands, we have the largest rookeries for the Hawksbill turtle in the South Pacific.
“Studies we have done show that turtles are being harvested indiscriminately in our communities at an alarming consumption rate of 11,000 per year.
“This means that a lot of the turtles that are harvested are juveniles and this will most certainly affect the population of turtles going forward into the future.
“That is why we see this partnership with the 2023 Pacific Games as a big opportunity for us – a massive way forward to help enhance our work in protecting all sea turtles from extinction here in Solomon Islands and throughout the Pacific Region,” Mr Atu said.
