Wallis and Futuna Territorial Biodiversity Strategy 2025–2029

Abstract

The Territory of Wallis and Futuna is home to a precious and relatively well-preserved natural heritage. Article 12 of the Statutory Law of July 29, 1961 lists, among the powers of the Territorial Assembly, “the protection of nature .” The Territory has been working, particularly since the creation of the Territorial Environment Service in 1997, to align with both national (SNB) and regional (PROE) guidelines while addressing local priorities, with the aim of preserving and enhancing its natural heritage as effectively as possible, in consultation with all local authorities and stakeholders. Work began in 2012 with the support of the Oceania Regional Environment Program and the NGO Conservation International, leading to the completion of an ecosystem profile in 2015 and the adoption in 2016 of a territorial biodiversity strategy for 2016–2020 (Decree 2016-317), comprising 104 actions divided into six themes. This strategy has been monitored and implemented by the “biodiversity” team of the Regional Environment Department (composed of 4 staff members working 60% of the time, as 40% of their time is dedicated to WATER initiatives) as well as part-time by an OFB-ADEME staff member since 2021 and by 7 staff members on fixed-term contracts between 2019 and 2023. It was not until 2023, through discussions with technical departments and the French Office for Biodiversity, that each action underwent a thorough evaluation