2017 Pacific Environmental Security Forum

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.

Forum Host

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Agenda

Day 1 – Environmental Security Best Practices In The Indo-Asia-Pacific Region

Tuesday, 09 May 2017

0730 – 0830

REGISTRATION

0830 – 0900

Opening Ceremony

Led by Major General Laurie Hummel, Adjutant General, Alaska National Guard, USA

Alaska Native Welcome

0900 – 0915

GROUP PHOTO

0915 – 0920

Administrative Reminders

CPT Amanda Plachek, State Partnership Program Coordinator, Alaska National Guard

0920 – 0940

Shaping Environmental Security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region

Mr. Christopher Sholes, Environmental Program Manager, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (J445)

0940 – 0950

Moderator Introduction

Dr. John Wood, Director, Pacific Outreach, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (J9)

0950 – 1010

Global Climate Change, Ocean Acidification, and the Adoption of the Public Trust Doctrine

Brigadier General Aziz Mohammed, Deputy Commander, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

1010 – 1030

Marine Environmental Conservation

Captain (G) Pujitha Thushara Sugathadasa, Commanding Officer, SLNS Dakshina Naval Base, Sri Lanka Navy

1030 – 1100

BREAK

1100 – 1120

Imja Tsho Glacial Lake De-Watering Effort

Lt Col Bharat Lal Shrestha, Project Team Leader, Nepalese Army

1120 – 1140

Environmental Security Outlook in Timor-Leste

Captain Domingos Oki, Engineering Officer, Directorate of Strategic Politics and International Policy, Timor-Leste Ministry of Defence

1140 – 1220

Environmental Security Panel Session

Dr. John Wood, Director, Pacific Outreach, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (J9)

1220 – 1330

LUNCH
(Video 1: Chasing Ice)

1330 – 1355

Work Group Introduction Session

Mr. Justin Pummell, Geographer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1355 – 1400

Work Group Activity 1: Introduction

Round 1 | Round 2

1400 – 1445

Work Group Activity 1: Environmental Security Jeopardy

1445 – 1515

BREAK

1515 – 1520

Work Group Activity 2: Introduction

Mr. Justin Pummell, Geographer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1520 – 1610

Work Group Activity 2: Paper Balls

1610 – 1615

Master of Ceremony Daily Summary

1830 – 2030

ICEBREAKER

49th State Brewing Company
Hosted by Major General Laurie Hummel

Day 2 – Environmental Security Tracks

Wednesday, 10 May 2017

0845 – 0850

Administrative Remarks

0850 – 0900

Introduction to Track Themes

Major General Laurie Hummel, Adjutant General, Alaska National Guard, United States of America

0900 – 0910

TRANSITION

0910 – 0920

STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (SPP) TRACK

Introduction
Major General Laurie Hummel, Adjutant General, Alaska National Guard, USA

0910 – 0920

CLIMATE CHANGE TRACK

Introduction
Dr. Douglas Causey, Director, Applied Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska – Anchorage

0910 – 0920

WATER SECURITY TRACK

Introduction
Dr. Roger Babcock, Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

0920 – 0940

ADEC Regulation of Rural Alaska Landfills

Robert Blankenburg, PE, Solid Waste and Pesticides Program Manager, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation

0920 – 0940

Climate Change and Biodiversity

Dr. J. Jerome Montague, Native Affairs and Natural Resources Advisor, Alaskan Command, USA

0920 – 0940

Puttalam Water Supply Project

Mr. Michael Macmillan, Supervisory Project Manager, Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

0940 – 0945

TRANSITION

0945 – 1005

Environmental Security Challenges: From Threat to Opportunity

Dr. Geoff Dabelko, Professor and Director, Environmental Studies Program, Ohio University

0945 – 1005

Climate Change Impacts on Maritime Security: An Indonesian Navy Perspective

First Admiral Muhammad Ali, Vice Assistant for Planning and Budgeting to the Chief of the Indonesian Navy

0945 – 1005

Water Supply of Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia

Mr. B. Purevjav, Control Department Head of Operations, Ulaanbaatar City Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, Mongolia

1005 – 1010

TRANSITION

1010 – 1030

Food Security

Brigadier General Zachary F. Doser, Director of the Joint Staff, Nevada National Guard, USA

1010 – 1030

Climate Change Adaptation on Water Resources in Korea: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Dr. Su-Hyung Jang, Principal Researcher, K-Water Institute

1010 – 1030

Water Scarcity in an Uncertain World

Mr. Robert Bowers, Principal Hydrologist, H2Alluvium, New Zealand

1030 – 1100

BREAK

1100 – 1110

SPP TRACK (CONT.)

Introduction
Major General Laurie Hummel, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard, USA

1100 – 1110

WASTE TRACK

Introduction
Ms. Karen Baker, SES, Chief of Environmental Division, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1100 – 1110

ENERGY TRACK

Introduction
Mr. Joel Neimeyer, Federal Co-Chair, Denali Commission

1110 – 1130

Hawaii State Partnership Program & Environmental Security

Major General Arthur “Joe” Logan, Adjutant General, Hawaii National Guard, USA

1110 – 1130

Attu Island Environmental Remediation

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Buursma, Deputy Commander, Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1110 – 1130

Integrating Renewables in Rural Alaska

Mr. Forest Button, Manager, Project Development & Key Accounts, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, USA

1130 – 1135

TRANSITION

1135 – 1155

Responsible Mining in Mongolia: What Does It Take From a Workforce Development Perspective

Dr. Rajive Ganguli, Professor of Mining Engineering, and Director, Mineral Industry Research Laboratory, University of Alaska Fairbanks

1135 – 1155

Da Nang Environmental Remediation Program

Colonel Dau Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director, Centre for Environmental Treatment Technology, Vietnam and Dr. Andrew L. Sayers-Fay, Environmental Consultant, Chemist and Remediation Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development

1135 – 1155

Modular Diesel Power Systems for Rural Villages

Mr. David Lockard, P.E., Lead Engineer – Rural Energy, Alaska Energy Authority, USA

1155 – 1200

TRANSITION

1200 – 1220

USGS Research in the Arctic and Pacific

Dr. John Pearce, Division Chief, U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center

1200 – 1220

Oil Spillage in Sundarban: A Serious Wakeup Call

Commodore Yahya Syed, Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Mr. MD Alamgir, Joint Secretary and Director, Department of Environment, Bangladesh

1200 – 1220

Rural Mooring Points: A Simple Project Leads to Big Benefits

Ms. Jocelyn Fenton, Physical Scientist, Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1220 – 1225

TRANSITION BACK TO PLENARY

1225 – 1235

Site Visit Overview

CPT Amanda Plachek, State Partnership Program Coordinator, Alaska National Guard

1235 – 1300

TRAVEL TO SITE VISIT
(Box lunches on vans)

1300 – 1700

SITE VISIT CIRCUIT

Stop 1: William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery
Stop 2: Wildlife Education Center
Stop 3: Wildlife & Range Management on Eagle River Flats
Stop 4: Anchorage Landfill and Methane Gas Power Plant

1700 – 1730

RETURN (SITE VISIT)

Day 3 – The Military & Biodiversity Conservation

Thursday, 11 May 2017

0900 – 0905

Administrative Remarks

0905 – 0915

Introduction to Natural Resources Management & Biodiversity Conservation Theme

Colonel Frank A. Flores, Commander, U.S. Pacific Air Force Regional Support Center

0915 – 0935

China Customs Practice in Fighting against Wildlife Trafficking

Mr. Zhang Xiaohui, Director of International Enforcement Cooperation Division, Anti-Smuggling Bureau (ASB) of General Administration of China Customs (GACC), China

0935 – 0955

Natural Resources Management on Military Lands in Australia

Brigadier Craig Dobson, Director General Support (J1/J4), Headquarters Joint Operations Command (DGSPT HQJOC), Australia

0955 – 1015

The Role of Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia in Preventing Wildlife Trafficking

Mr. Abdul Kadir bin Abu Hashim, Director General of Wildlife Department and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (DWNP

1015 – 1045

BREAK

1045 – 1105

Palau National Marine Sanctuary

Honorable F. Umiich Sengebau, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism, Republic of Palau

1105 – 1200

Natural Resources Management & Biodiversity Conservation Panel Session

Moderated by Col Frank A. Flores, Commander, U.S. Pacific Air Force Regional Support Center

1200 – 1300

LUNCH

(Video 3: U.S. Department of Defense “Legacy” Natural Resource Management Program)

1300 – 1315

Biodiversity Work Group Activity Introduction

Mr. Justin Pummell, Geographer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

1315 – 1415

Biodiversity Activity

1445 – 1515

BREAK

1515 – 1615

Biodiversity Activity (Continued)

1615 – 1655

Biodiversity Activity Results

1655 – 1700

Administrative Remarks

CPT Amanda Plachek, State Partnership Program Coordinator, Alaska National Guard

Day 4 – Project Collaboration

Friday, 12 May 2017

0900 – 0905

Administrative Remarks

0905 – 0920

Project Collaboration Introduction and Process Overview

Mr. Christopher Sholes, Environmental Program Manager, US Pacific Command

0920 – 1020

Project Collaboration Session 1: Brainstorming

1000 – 1040

Project Collaboration Session 2: Idea Prioritization & Detailing

1040 – 1110

BREAK

1110 – 1200

Project Collaboration Outbrief

1200 – 1300

LUNCH

(Video 4: Attu Environmental Cleanup)

1300 – 1415

Environmental Security Forum After-Action Review by Country

Moderated by Col Mike Matheis, Civil Engineer, US Indo-Pacific Command

1415 – 1430

Participant Evaluation Forms

1430 – 1500

BREAK

1500 – 1515

Closing Ceremony

Comments by:
Ambassador Bulgaa Altangerel, Mongolian Ambassador to the United States of America and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott, State of Alaska, USA

1515 – 1545

Certificate and Photo Distribution

Gallery

Event Documents:

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What Does The Partnership Do?

The Partnership broadly conceptualizes environmental security as safeguarding against vulnerabilities induced by the abundance or scarcity of environmental assets and/or degradation. The Working Groups implement training and capacity building activities to improve the ability of partner nations to plan for and manage environmental security challenges.

IPESP Partners

The Partnership includes four working groups, which help shape the mission, maintain structure and sustainability, and provide clear lines to accomplish organizational objectives.