RESTORE: Restoring ecosystems for sustainable, transformative, and resilient communities

© Kiwa Initiative

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Kiwa RESTORE project highlights the women who are taking concrete action on the ground to restore mangroves and strengthen the resilience of coastal communities across the Pacific.

Behind every restored mangrove are committed women, present and determined to drive change. From Fiji to Samoa and Timor-Leste, local champions such as Vasemaca, Moe, and Teresinha embody this mobilisation for coastlines, theenvironment, and communities.

Through their actions, they help protect coastlines, preserve ecosystems, and demonstrate an environmental leadership rooted in local realities.

© Kiwa Initiative

From Timor-Leste to Fiji and Samoa, communities across the Pacific are taking action to restore coastal ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and protect the natural resources they depend on.

This latest edition highlights the inspiring progress achieved during the first half of 2026: thousands of mangroves planted, coral reefs restored, local fisheries management strengthened, and communities empowered through training, education and inclusive governance.

Explore how the Kiwa RESTORE project is turning NbS into tangible benefits for people and biodiversity across the Pacific.

Read the newsletter to discover the latest stories, achievements and milestones from the field:

pdf Kiwa RESTORE Newsletter - July 2026(9.03 MB)

© Kiwa Initiative

From mangrove restoration to community-led initiatives across the Pacific, the Kiwa RESTORE project demonstrates how nature-based solutions are beingimplemented on the ground to strengthen climate resilience.

Read more in the March newsletter: pdf Kiwa RESTORE Newsletter - March 2026(7.19 MB)

© Kiwa Initiative

The RESTORE Project Inception Workshop and the first Stakeholder Coordination Committee Meeting were held last week at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. The event brought together key partners and stakeholders united by a common goal: to restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and support the unique communities who depend on these landscapes.

Funded by the Kiwa Initiative and implemented by Conservation International (CI), the RESTORE project aims to enhance community resilience to climate change through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Fiji, Samoa, and Timor-Leste.

In Fiji, the project focuses on restoring and managing vital ecosystems—such as mangroves and coral reefs—to reduce vulnerability to climate change and enhance coastal protection. Priority areas of intervention include the Rewa Delta, Navitilevu Bay, and the Lau Seascape. Strong collaboration with local stakeholders will be essential to improve ecosystem services and support sustainable livelihoods.

© Kiwa Initiative

On June 17, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Fiji Time), the RESTORE project led by Conservation International and supported by the Kiwa Initiative will host an information session on coral restoration in the Lau Seascape, a critical marine ecosystem in Fiji.

This event is open to practitioners and partners working on ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable development across the Pacific. It will take place at CI’s Suva office and will also be accessible online.

The session will feature:

• Updates on restoration actions in the Lau Seascape,
• Techniques used in coral restoration,
• Community engagement strategies,
• Monitoring frameworks.

Join the session online: Knowledge-Sharing Session on Coral Restoration

© Kiwa Initiative

The Kiwa RESTORE project in Timor-Leste is strengthening community groups through training led by Fundasaun Alola and Conservation International Timor-Leste on collecting, aggregating, and adding value to local products. Created last August, the groups focus either on mangrove restoration or on developing sustainable local products.

Since 13 November, a series of workshops has enhanced members’ skills in data analysis, product design, packaging choices, and brand identity. The Sanirin group has already selected two priority products: hodi sona and sangria.

This training represents a key step toward ensuring the groups’ long-term economic sustainability after the project ends. CI-TL, which is actively engaged in climate action, also supports communities through innovative solutions such as Marine Protected Areas, essential for local livelihoods.

© Kiwa Initiative

• Location: Samoa
• Duration: 1 Year Internship

As an intern, you’ll help with:

• Preparing for fieldwork and research
• Supporting data collection and management
• Assisting with community engagement activities
• Contributing to progress reports and communications

Apply now: CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL - TERMS OF REFERENCE

© Benedict Yamamura

Auckland, 19-24 July 2026

The 16th International Coral Reef Symposium opened in Auckland on 19 July, running for six days at the New Zealand International Convention Centre. Held every four years by the International Coral Reef Society, ICRS is one of the largest global gatherings for coral reef science, conservation and management. It brings together researchers, marine managers, NGOs and decision-makers.

This is the first time the symposium has come to Aotearoa New Zealand. Sitting the event next to the Pacific Islands opens more room for customary knowledge and community-led management, which rarely take centre stage at meetings of this size. The 2026 theme, “Working together to ensure a future for coral reefs”, points the same way.

Two Kiwa-funded projects are in the room: MiCOAST, working across Micronesia, and Kiwa RESTORE, working in Samoa and across the Pacific.

MiCOAST brings the Micronesian experience

Simon Ellis (MERIP), Keoni Kattil (Marshall Islands Conservation Society) and Martin Romain (OneReef Worldwide Stewardship) represent the Kiwa MiCOAST project in Auckland, with other project partners. Their poster (board 270) makes the case for community-based fisheries management (CBFM) as a Nature-based Solution, with examples from the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei (FSM) and beyond.

MiCOAST is led by OneReef Worldwide Stewardship and runs through a network of non-governmental organisations across Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Nauru. The people it sent to Auckland come from that field network, the ones who work on the islands with the communities.

Each is taking something home. Simon Ellis returns with new insights on emerging coral restoration techniques and ideas to adapt his work in Pohnpei. For Keoni Kattil, a first international conference, and a set of new connections to raise the profile of MICS. Martin Romain leaves with lessons from regional practitioners on community-owned reef management, ideas to strengthen MiCOAST’s approach across Micronesia, and a wider network of collaborators.

Samoa: Kiwa RESTORE on culture and science

Su’a Ulusapeti Tiitii, Kiwa RESTORE’s Samoa Project Manager at Conservation International, presented on 21 July. Her talk, “Culturally Grounded Marine Management: Evidence from the Kiwa RESTORE Project & Pacific Case Studies”, sat in a session on how local and Indigenous knowledge is shaping reef conservation and fisheries management across the Pacific.

Her argument was practical. In Samoa, marine conservation is not new. Long before Western regulations, villages managed their own reefs through Fa’asamoa, the traditional governance system, setting tapu areas where fishing stopped so fish and coral could recover.

Kiwa RESTORE builds on that. The project works with 15 coastal communities across three districts to review and develop Village Fisheries Management Plans, pairing traditional village rules with scientific monitoring of fish stocks, coral cover and reef health. Ulusapeti Tiitii also pointed to Fiji’s Lau Seascape Initiative, where an island-representative team leads local conservation with the backing of Lau’s customary chiefs.

Her takeaway for the room:

“While Pacific Island communities have much to contribute to the global conversation, there is also much to learn from innovative restoration approaches, emerging science and international partnerships that can further strengthen locally led conservation efforts.” Think globally, act locally.

Why Kiwa follows this event

The Kiwa Initiative funds Nature-based Solutions for climate adaptation in the Pacific. Coral reefs are the front line. They break the swell, they feed villages, and they are degrading faster than we can adapt.

ICRS is where coral reef science and field management meet. Sending people from the Pacific, not only scientists, changes what that conversation sounds like.

© RESTORE PROJECT - CI-TL - Kiwa Initiative

Conservation International Timor-Leste (CI-TL) has formed new partnerships with Konservasaun Flora no Fauna (KFF) and the Alola Foundation to restore coastal ecosystems and empower local communities in Timor-Leste. This collaboration is part of the KIWA RESTORE project, which aims to strengthen the adaptive capacity and economic resilience of Pacific Islanders through community-based coastal ecosystem restoration in Fiji, Samoa, and Timor-Leste.

KFF will spearhead efforts to restore and maintain coastal ecosystems in the municipalities of Bobonaro and Liquica. Targeted areas include the villages of Sanirin, Aidabaleten, Batugade in Bobonaro, and Ulmera in Liquica. KFF will lead the restoration of approximately 6 ha of mangroves in Batugade Village, 50 ha in Sanirin Village, 17 ha in Ulmera Village, and 9 ha in Aidabaleten Village.

The Alola Foundation will promote sustainable livelihoods through training and market access, empowering women and enhancing community resilience. The Foundation's Economic Development Program provides opportunities for women across Timor-Leste to participate in economic life through small business, cooperative producer groups, and finance education.

© Kiwa Initiative

The Kiwa RESTORE regional project, was recently featured in the latest edition of Wansolwara, the biannual newspaper produced by the University of the South Pacific’sSchool of Journalism. The article highlights the project’s role and community-led efforts in revitalizing natural ecosystems.

Earlier this year, the RESTORE team also joined the School’s Friday Forum, sharing perspectives on climate communications with journalism students and faculty. Engaging with the next generation of Pacific storytellers is a vital step in amplifying climate action messages and inspiring more voices to join the conversation.

© Kiwa Initiative

In Samoa, the Conservation International team recently held, on March 25, a series of inception workshops and community consultations in the districts of A’ana Alofi 4, Aiga-le-Tai, and Falelatai & Samatau. These gatherings brought together key partners from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), demonstrating a strong commitment to preserving the country’s coastal and marine ecosystems.

The active participation of local communities—from traditional leaders to young environmental advocates—reflects the strong potential of this initiative to build a sustainable and resilient future for Samoa.

Key highlights from the sessions:

• Enhanced collaboration: Government representatives, traditional chiefs, youth, and civil society members came together to co-develop an integrated conservation strategy grounded in a shared vision for the land and sea.
• Concrete discussions: Topics included sustainable fisheries management, the restoration of coral reefs and mangroves, and innovative initiatives to strengthen local livelihoods.
• A shared vision for the future: Aligned with the Samoa Ocean Strategy 2020–2030, the RESTORE project blends traditional knowledge and scientific approaches to safeguard natural resources while supporting cultural heritage and economic development within communities.

The regional Kiwa RESTORE project aims to strengthen community resilience to climate change through Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in three Pacific Island countries: Fiji, Samoa, and Timor-Leste.

© Initiative Kiwa_Conservation International Timor Leste 2025

The Kiwa regional project RESTORE is implemented by Conservation International Timor-Leste and its partners in Fiji, Samoa, and Timor-Leste. Congratulations to the dedicated teams for their commitment, especially in Timor-Leste, where the project is contributing to the restoration of mangroves and their associated ecosystems.

During the last coordination meeting held end of February in Timor-Leste, partners have :

• Shared the RESTORE Project timeline.
• Developed the RESTORE activity roadmap.
• Shared the Logframe and Monitored Tracking system for Ecosystem & Mangrove Restoration system.
• Assessed the Ecosystem & Mangrove Restoration and Climate Smart Livelihood Methodology & tools.

The Kiwa Initiative is proud to support these collective efforts, enabling local solutions that address climate challenges while protecting biodiversity.

© Kiwa Initiative

From 22 to 25 April 2025, more than 200 marine resource users participated in a perception survey across 15 coastal villages in Samoa. This initiative is part of the RESTORE regional project, funded by the Kiwa Initiative, and carried out with support from the National University of Samoa (NUS) and CI-Samoa.

The findings highlight deep concern among communities regarding the degradation of coastal ecosystems:

• coastal erosion,
• damaged coral reefs,
• declining fisheries.

These environmental pressures are directly threatening the livelihoods of local populations.
The survey also reveals strong community support for nature-based solutions, while underlining the need for more training, tools, and ongoing support to take effective action. Inclusive decision-making and long-term partnerships are seen as key factors for success.
This local and participatory data collection effort underscores the importance of co-designing climate responses with the people most affected.
The Kiwa Initiative warmly thanks the traditional leaders (Sui o Nu’u), community members, and the students who supported data collection, for their commitment to protecting and restoring Samoa’s ecosystems.

© KiwaInitiative_CI_Restore_April 2025

Between 24 March and 9 April 2025, the regional Kiwa RESTORE project, led by Conservation International, carried out a mapping campaign of mangrove areas combined with a socio-economic assessment across four coastal villages in timor-leste: Aidabaleten, Batugade, Sanirin and Ulmera, covering 12 sub-villages in the Bobonaro region.

Conducted in partnership with Konservasaun flora & fauna (KFF), the Alola foundation, and the Ministry of agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry (MALFF), the mission aimed to better understand the pressures placed on mangrove ecosystems by local livelihoods and to identify concrete opportunities for restoration.

In total, 115.32 hectares of mangroves were mapped in the villages of Beacou, Batugade, Be-Malae and Ulmera. Data were collected through direct field observations along the coastline and community consultations. The findings confirm that mangrove areas continue to be threatened by human activities and the impacts of climate change.

The success of this operation was made possible through the strong mobilisation of forestry technicians, forest guards, village and sub-village chiefs, and local communities, following a collaborative, shared governance approach.

© Kiwa Initiative

The regional Kiwa RESTORE project, will host a special Brown Bag Information Session on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM (Fiji Time) at the Sovi Conference Room (CI Office), with an online option available.

This interactive event will share project updates and promote the adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS) across the Pacific. Participants will gain insights into:

• best practices in mangrove restoration techniques,
• successful community engagement models,
• key monitoring and evaluation frameworks used in the field.

So far, 9 hectares of mangroves have already been restored in Navitilevu Bay, Fiji.

© Kiwa Initiative

From 14 to 25 July 2025, Conservation International – Samoa, in collaboration with the Fisheries Division of Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, conducted a series of community consultations across 15 coastal villages on the island of Upolu.

The consultations, part of the Kiwa Initiative-funded RESTORE Project, focused on reviewing existing community management plans and assessing marine biodiversity.

Participants included village councils, women’s committees, youth groups, fishers, and untitled men (aumaga/taulele’a), who engaged in meaningful dialogue on protecting and restoring their marine ecosystems. Village chiefs voiced strong support and gratitude for this collaboration with CI and the Government of Samoa, highlighting its importance not only for today, but also for future generations.

Over its three-year duration, the RESTORE project will support 15 village communities across the districts of Aana Alofi 4, Aiga-le-Tai, and Falelatai & Samatau,contributing to the conservation and restoration of Samoa’s marine ecosystems.

© Conservation International - Russell Lovo © Kiwa Initiative - 29 April

80,000 seedlings potted. Nine hectares restored. Five villages, one shared fishing ground.

APRIL  |  RA PROVINCE, FIJI

More than 80,000 mangrove seedlings have been potted and over nine hectares restored in Navitilevu Bay, as communities in Ra Province rebuild coastal protection and livelihoods through the Kiwa RESTORE Project.

Ten years after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston tore through Fiji and devastated the mangroves that coastal communities in Ra Province depended on, five villages in Navitilevu Bay are restoring what was lost.

Working through community-managed in-situ nurseries, villagers are replanting degraded coastal areas across their shared qoliqoli cokovata (community-managed customary fishing area), with a restoration target of 20 hectares across the wider bay. The work is led under the Kiwa RESTORE Project in Fiji with nine ha restoration supported by co-financing from Australia’s DFAT Blue Carbon Project.

For the families who fish these waters, the restoration is not only about ecology. It is about food security, coastal protection, and the future of a shared fishing ground that has supported generations.

When Cyclone Winston made landfall in February 2016, it brought winds of up to 306 km/h, causing widespread destruction across Fiji. In Navitilevu Bay, communities saw not only damage to homes and crops, but to the mangrove ecosystems that sheltered marine life and supported local livelihoods.

Barotu Village headman, Meciusela Tulewa, said the community’s attitude toward fishing had changed since the disaster.

“Our fisherfolks knew that the marine life existing in the mangroves was in abundance. We would fish to catch as many as we can, rather than ‘just enough’. We treated our marine eco-system as a bottomless pit that would never dry up,” he said.

Government post-disaster assessments and community observations in the years that followed pointed to the loss of mangrove habitat and the knock-on effects on coastal fisheries. For communities in Navitilevu Bay, the damage was felt directly in reduced catches and growing pressure on household livelihoods.

Fisher Meri Vuda, who has spent more than 40 years harvesting crabs from Barotu’s mangrove forests, says the change is tangible.

“Before Winston I didn’t have to go any further into the mangroves for a decent catch,” she said.

“It was just there. Walking into the mangroves always guaranteed enough catch for my family’s needs - both for sustenance and an income,” she said.

She said after the cyclone, there was a lull in her crab-catching activity. However, with mangrove restoration beginning with DFAT Blue Carbon Project in 2023, Vuda has noticed gradual return of large mud crabs and other mangrove marine species. 

But this recovery did not begin from the outside. It began in the villages. By the communities themselves.

Today, five communities, Nanukuloa, Naiserelagi, Barotu, Matawailevu, and Navuniivi, are working together to restore the bay’s mangrove systems under the Kiwa RESTORE Project in Fiji, led by Conservation International Fiji and funded through the Kiwa Initiative. 

Together, the five communities share the bay’s coastal fishing ground, the qoliqoli cokovata, and they are sharing the work of rebuilding it. The two mangrove species at the centre of the effort, Rhizophora (tiri) and Bruguiera (dogo), are among the dominant species in the bay, and restoring them requires patient, hands-on work shaped by tides, weather, and season.

The project is built on a simple principle: restoration lasts when communities have both the means and the incentive to protect what they rebuild.

According to Mere Lakeba, Interim Vice President of Conservation International’s Pacific Program, RESTORE is designed not only to replant mangroves but to rebuild resilience. “Restoration is not only improving the environment — it is strengthening resilience. Alongside mangrove planting, the project supports sustainable livelihoods linked to ecosystem health.”  

Alongside the mangrove planting, the project has supported livelihood activities linked to the health of the surrounding environment. In Nanukuloa Village, community members now manage apiaries. In Matawailevu, women are producing honeycomb coconut cream and honey for sale. These activities are designed to strengthen household resilience while reinforcing long-term stewardship of the bay’s natural resources.

And the signs of recovery from the bay itself are starting to show.

“The mangroves are returning now, and so are the crabs. We can see it. That’s why I’m happy this project is focusing on mangroves. It brings back life -- for us and for the sea.,” said Setaita Biu, Fish Warden, Barotu Village

Maciusela Tulewa added: “The restoration work also improved our knowledge of why we need mangroves. Being involved in the mangrove restoration activities and seeing the impacts it is having on our community has been a great turning point for most of us, who took the existence of mangroves for granted before TC Winston.” 

Marking the Launch

The work in Navitilevu Bay is also drawing wider regional attention.

Recently, representatives from international funding bodies and partner organisations visited the restoration sites in Ra Province recently, marking the official launch of mangrove restoration under the Kiwa RESTORE Project. Following a formal sevusevu at the Nanukuloa Community Hall — where community representatives from all five villages shared their experiences directly — the delegation travelled by boat from Barotu Village at low tide, walking through nursery sites and newly recovering coastal zones. To mark the launch, delegation members joined community members in planting 200 mangrove seedlings. The seedlings potted by communities across the bay will now move to the next phase — transplanted into the coastal areas where restoration is underway.

The delegation included representatives from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the Kiwa Initiative Secretariat, Australia’s DFAT, the European Union and SPREP.

What they found was not a project in progress. It was one visibly, measurably delivering -- and a direct challenge to the assumption that nature-based restoration in the Pacific needs to be driven from the outside.

“The RESTORE project is supported by the Kiwa Initiative with €3.3 million (around FJD 8.4 million) in funding from France, the European Union, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. As donors, what we saw today in Navitilevu Bay demonstrates how this collective public investment is helping communities restore their ecosystems and deliver tangible results on the ground. Through the support and capacity building provided by Conservation International, local communities are leading the way in strengthening climate resilience. Meeting the women and men driving this work has been truly inspiring. We are deeply grateful for the warm welcome received today.” says Mr. Thomas ZARATIEGUI, Head of Programs, AFD Pacific regional office (based in Noumea, New Caledonia). 

For communities in Navitilevu Bay, the significance of the work is already clear.

They know that stronger storms, rising seas, and climate pressures will continue to shape the future of Fiji’s coastlines. 

Their restoration effort is not based on the assumption that the next disaster can be avoided. It is based on the belief that communities can be better prepared for it.

Ten years after Winston, the message from Navitilevu Bay is both practical and powerful: when communities lead restoration, coastlines can recover, livelihoods can strengthen, and resilience can take root.

© Kiwa Initiative

From Timor-Leste to Samoa and Fiji, it highlights a year of concrete, community-led actions to restore coastal ecosystems, protect biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.

pdf Kiwa RESTORE - Timor Leste - Newsletter January 2026(12.37 MB)

© Kiwa Initiative

The regional Kiwa RESTORE project highlighted by the Fiji Times, particularly for its work restoring the mangroves of Navitilevu Bay since 2024.

Read the article here : Navitilevu Bay shows the way | Restore our mangroves

© Kiwa Initiative

The regional Kiwa RESTORE project, led by Conservation International Timor-Leste, has launched its first training on the co-management of natural resources. The session brought together local communities, traditional authorities, and public institutions.

Its goal: to jointly build an ambitious restoration plan for forests, coastal areas, and key ecosystems, strengthening resilience to climate change.
Two additional sessions will follow in the coming months.

© Kiwa Initiative

On 21 May 2025, a national inception workshop was held in Dili, bringing together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, and local communities. This key milestone signals the growing momentum of the RESTORE project in Timor-Leste, reaffirming a shared commitment to enhancing coastal resilience to climate change.

The event anchored RESTORE within national adaptation and ecosystem restoration priorities, while placing strong emphasis on community needs and traditional knowledge.

Notable achievements in Timor-Leste so far include:

• The assessment of 120 hectares of degraded mangroves across four coastal villages,
• Financial literacy training and livelihood needs assessments,
• Local-language radio campaigns promoting climate adaptation (co-funded through the Manaaki project supported by MFAT).

“Today, we gather not in despair, but in action. RESTORE represents our shared commitment to reversing degradation, restoring resilience, and building a sustainable future, together.”

This official launch confirms the project’s growing reach in the country and highlights its role as a catalyst for inclusive and nature-based climate solutions in the Pacific.

© Kiwa Initiative

In early December (3–9), the Kiwa RESTORE project, implemented by Conservation International Timor-Leste, carried out participatory zoning and mapping sessions to support mangrove restoration. Conducted in collaboration with municipal MPA management committees and forestry rangers, the activities brought together communities from Batugade, Sanirin and Aidabaleten (Bobonaro Municipality) and Ulmera (Liquiça Municipality).

Held at Community Conservation Group centres, the sessions enabled communities to assess the condition of coastal and marine areas, identify degraded zones and define land-use plans structured into four categories: livelihood zones, protected zones, restoration zones and no-take areas (bandu). Discussions also focused on strengthening traditional regulations such as tarabandu. All community plans will be consolidated into a Municipal Marine Protected Area Management Plan, improving coordination and ensuring the long-term protection of coastal and marine ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods.

© Kiwa Initiative

On World Mangrove Day, the Kiwa RESTORE Project marks a significant milestone in Navitilevu Bay, Fiji. Three of five targeted restoration sites are now complete, with 15.47 hectares of mangroves restored as part of a broader 20-hectare goal spanning Fiji, Samoa and Timor-Leste.

Implemented by Conservation International and supported by the Kiwa Initiative, this project demonstrates the power of community-centred, Nature-based Solutions to deliver measurable outcomes for coastal resilience and biodiversity. Mangroves are among the most carbon-dense ecosystems on Earth and serve as critical buffers against storm surges and coastal erosion — pressures that are intensifying across Pacific Island communities as the climate changes.