In the Pacific, where so much of land and water have been governed and managed by Indigenous Peoples and communities across miles and millennia, we have a unique opportunity to tackle these interconnected challenges with much-needed innovation, multilateral partnership and vast experiences targeting 30% of the world’s surface. 

In December 2022, over 190 countries under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted an agreement to reverse nature loss and halt the extinction of species by the year 2030. A key component of this agreement is Target 3 — which calls for conserving at least 30 percent of land, freshwater, and oceans globally by 2030 (commonly called ‘30x30’). 

Our roadmap towards a “People and Nature Positive Pacific” is rooted in supporting the thousands of islands representing Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands in securing Target 3. For our oceans, this means more than tripling the extent of marine protected and conserved areas within less than a decade. For our forests in Papua New Guinea, this means working towards formally protecting the third largest pristine rainforest in the world, after the Amazon and the Congo.

Our decades of experience in natural stewardship across Pacific countries have enriched our expertise in combining community leadership, traditional knowledge, and conservation science to foster resilience for climate, ecosystems and communities. With vital support from governments, corporations and multilateral development banks, combined with lasting relationships with communities across islands and coasts, we have tested methods that are being scaled up and accelerated throughout the region.

Our initiatives include...

• Empowering local communities to inclusively and equitably manage and expand marine protected areas, which helps sustain fish populations and protect coral reefs.
• Supporting communities in integrating Indigenous practices in sustainable farming or harvesting, such as agroforestry, which enhances soil health and food security.
• Assisting governments in the three countries develop and effectively implement frameworks that support Nature-based solutions, sustainable blue economy through business development and market access and effective community-led natural resource use, as well as climate adaptation planning.
• Implementing climate-adaptive strategies like mangrove restoration to safeguard coastal ecosystems from erosion and storm surges. coral reef resilience that considers stronger and integrated management with watersheds and river systems draining out into priority reef areas. 
• Building coral reef resilience that considers stronger and integrated management with watersheds and river systems draining out into priority reef areas. 
• Investing in climate change awareness, such as training communities in disaster risk reduction and response, ensuring they are better equipped to handle extreme weather events.
• Promoting renewable energy solutions, we also reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support sustainable livelihoods.
• Amplifying Pacific voices and leadership in global climate policy contexts and advocating for issues that support regional resilience.