Washington, DC -- Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith Garber will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, August 30 – September 3 to participate in the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders (PICL) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress.

On August 31, Acting Assistant Secretary Garber will take part in a panel discussion focused on the environment at the Future Leaders of the Pacific (FLP) youth conference, co-organized by the Department of State and the East-West Center. Additionally, she will lead the U.S. Government Interagency Roundtable at the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders (PICL) with 20 Pacific Island leaders and high-level officials from several different U.S. government agencies and missions. This roundtable will feature discussions on climate change, oceans, and sustainable economic development.

On September 2, she will participate in an IUCN World Conservation Congress Forum panel titled, “Driving Private Sector Engagement of Biodiversity Conservation” with representatives from the private sector, government, and an international organization. The panel will focus on engagement strategies that aim to change production practices and investments in conservation.

Lastly on September 3, Acting Assistant Secretary Garber will chair an IUCN World Conservation Congress workshop titled, “Combatting Wildlife Trafficking: the Whole of USG approach.” This workshop will bring together the co-chairs of the U.S. Presidential Task Force on Combating Wildlife Trafficking and key partners to discuss the U.S. National Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking, including domestic and international efforts under the Strategy's three pillars of strengthen enforcement, reduce demand, and expand international cooperation.