REFUGE: Restoring ecosystems for flora, traditional uses, and water management in New Caledonia

With over 2,500 hectares burned in the 2019 wildfire, the forest in the Coulée Valley has virtually disappeared. With a limited network of tracks, very steep slopes, and screes, manually replanting this vast area is difficult to consider. However, given the stakes, particularly the water resources closely linked to forest health, it is crucial to accelerate the return of vegetation to this site, where numerous water catchments, upon which the populations of Mont Dore depend, are located.

The REFUGE project, led by Caledoclean, aims to support the ecological restoration of the Coulée Valley, enabling future forests to fulfill their natural role in water regulation (reducing runoff and facilitating infiltration into groundwater) and soil stabilization (reducing erosion and landslides). This project relies on assisted natural regeneration, combining the planting of 8,000 endemic trees with the active participation of local communities. By creating an ecological corridor, the actions undertaken reconnect the remaining forests, strengthen biodiversity, and attract pollinators essential for revitalizing forest dynamics, as well as natural seed dispersers that will ensure the recolonization of slopes inaccessible to humans.

The project directly addresses major climate challenges—droughts, floods, erosion, and water security—while promoting a nature-based solution adapted to the local context… and valuing New Caledonia's rich biodiversity!

Project objectives

The expected results will benefit both the direct participants and the wider community.

The project's direct actions will thus have the following effects:

• Job creation in the reforestation sector and the professional integration of young people: employment opportunities and integration of young people into reintegration programs.
• Ecosystem improvement: forest restoration, better water management, soil stabilization, and reduction of erosion, the harmful consequences of which affect the fringing reef, the lagoon waters, and even the outer barrier reef.
• Enhanced citizen engagement: active participation of citizens in community planting and raising awareness of the sustainable management of natural resources.

Indirectly, in this valley, popular for outdoor activities (swimming, hiking, cycling, etc.), these forest patches will not only contribute to less turbid water but also provide shade and remarkable wildlife, which are greatly appreciated by users.

Social inclusion and gender equity

Gender equality and inclusion are embedded throughout the project :

• Balanced male/female participation in teams and public planting events.
• Specific support for youth, including reintegration pathways.
• Equal access to ecological restoration training opportunities.