NES establishes NES-STAC to build technical capacity

NES has established its Science & Technical Advisory Committee (NES-STAC) as a critical step to build technical capacity within NES that may include expert advice, data analysis, technical assessments and peer review of work related to the NES mandate of environmental conservation, management, and protection.

Halatoa Fua stated ‘as NES continues to attract more science and environment graduates, there’s a need to establish this internal group to pursue professional development and capacity building of technical and specialised skills within the areas of environment, science or legal. There are five science graduates, one legal practitioner and other qualified staff in other relevant areas’.

The scope of works includes the provision of science or technical advice on Tier 1 (Approval) applications that are complex, all Tier 2 (Consents) and Tier 3 (EIA Permits) applications put forward to the Island Environment Authorities or Permitting Authorities. There is also technical advice sought on the National Environment Policy and the Monitoring and Evaluation framework. The members also collaborate with applicants and external experts contracted for technical advice on specialised areas.

The development of the NES-STAC will assist NES in implementing its new national policy particularly on data collection and research in the future.