New Zealand is to provide 4.5 million NZ dollars (3.76 million U.S. dollars) in a major project to help Pacific island nations manage their environments and ensure sustainable development.

An agreement signed Monday between the New Zealand government and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) provides funding till 2015 to help Pacific countries better manage solid waste, protect biodiversity while encouraging development through eco-tourism, and to assist Pacific nations in responding to climate change.

The funding from New Zealand would help implement the SPREP Strategic Plan 2011-2015, responding to the priority needs of SPREP member countries both nationally and at a regional level, SPREP director general David Sheppard said in a statement.

Some of the key work SPREP undertook in partnership with New Zealand agencies included programs on Pacific marine turtle conservation and climate reports.

SPREP is a Pacific regional inter-governmental organization charged with the protection and sustainable management of the Pacific island region's environment.

New Zealand is a founding member and development partner of SPREP. Endi

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