Restoration of Mangroves in New Caledonia

© Kiwa Initiative

Bottles from China, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji… all found on the same shoreline in New Caledonia.

Marine waste knows no borders! It is precisely this realization that brought together members of the Hô-üt association and the residents of the Koé tribe for a major coastal clean-up operation. The result: 34 garbage bags collected, the vast majority of which was plastic. This first action of the Kiwa RESMANC project marks the beginning of a long-term effort to restore mangroves and protect the coastlines of New Caledonia.

© Kiwa Initiative

In New Caledonia, the RESMANC project, supported by the Kiwa Initiative, continues with concrete actions to restore mangroves in Touho.

Taking advantage of a night-time low tide, members of the Hô-üt association and local residents carried out a field visit to the mangrove planting sites in Koé and Amoa. These regular monitoring visits help track the growth of young seedlings and protect an ecosystem that is essential for biodiversity and coastal protection.

The visits will continue every month until October 2026.
The RESMANC project illustrates a Nature-based Solutions approach, combining ecological restoration with strong involvement from local communities.

© Kiwa Initiative

As part of the Kiwa RESMANC – “restoration of mangroves in new caledonia” project , members of the HO-ÜT association tookadvantage of this afternoon’s tide to visit the mangrove planting carried out last month in the tribe of Koé.

The team checked on the young mangroves, clearing algae and debris that could slow their growth. this follow-up marks the start of a series of regular monitoring visits that will continue through october 2026.

The visit also underscored the richness of plant biodiversity in the caledonian mangrove — a vital ecosystem for coastal resilience. thanks were extended to the inhabitants of the tribe of koé for their ongoing involvement in restoring this unique environment.

© Kiwa Initiative

On 6 March, members of the Hô-üt association carried out the monthly monitoring visit of the 6,000 mangrove trees planted at the Koé tribe, as well as at the Amoa and Tianite sites, as part of the RESMANC project.

The overall assessment is positive, with most of the young plants developing well. Participants removed a few plant debris that had become caught on the leaves in order to support their growth.

The visit also made it possible to observe partial bleaching of the fringing reef near the Koé tribe. This stress phenomenon may be linked to the heavy rainfall recordedearlier this year, which can temporarily alter marine environmental conditions.

© Kiwa Initiative

A propagule collection operation was carried out by the Kiwa RESMANC team ahead of an upcoming planting session.

A total of 2,000 healthy propagules were gathered to maximise the chances of successful seedling establishment.

This year, the particularly abundant fruiting of stilt mangroves (Rhizophora sp.) provides ideal conditions to strengthen ongoing coastal ecosystem restoration efforts. The team also took the opportunity to conduct a waste clean-up in the bay of Kokingone tribe, helping protect this fragile environment.

© Kiwa Initiative

As part of the Kiwa RESMANC project, the Hô-üt association is continuing its mangrove restoration activities at the Amoa site in Touho. Three months after the planting of 2,000 mangroves, a first field monitoring session was carried out at low tide.

The results indicate a 40% survival rate, with young plants significantly affected by plant debris carried by the river. Despite these challenges, the remaining mangroves show an average growth of 23 cm.

In response, teams have initiated replanting operations, replacing some of the dead plants with new seedlings from the nursery. This collective mobilisation, strengthened by exchanges with a delegation from Wallis, highlights the commitment of local stakeholders to restoring coastal ecosystems and enhancing community resilience.