Through IUCN, communities, governments and partners are working together to protect some of the Pacific’s most important marine ecosystems through the SOMACORE in the Coral Triangle Programme and the COLORS Project.
In Papua New Guinea, recent regional dialogues and community engagements have strengthened cooperation across the Bismarck Solomon Seascape, one of the world’s most ecologically significant marine regions. These efforts help address shared challenges such as biodiversity loss, unsustainable resource use and climate change while supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.
A key part of this work is the IUCN Green List, a global standard for effective and equitable conservation. The Green List helps protected and conserved areas improve governance, management and conservation outcomes while ensuring local communities play a central role in decision-making.
Through the SOMACORE Programme, communities in Papua New Guinea’s Murat and Lovongai marine areas are working towards Green List standards. Assessments show both sites have strong governance and planning systems rooted in customary stewardship, providing a solid foundation for long-term conservation success.
In the Solomon Islands, custodians of the Arnavon Community Marine Park recently undertook a Green List self-assessment as part of their certification journey. The process highlighted the important role of community leadership and traditional knowledge in protecting marine biodiversity for future generations.
Supporting these efforts is the COLORS Project (Communities, Local Outcomes, Regional Science), which connects scientific knowledge with Indigenous and community-led conservation. The programme helps communities strengthen stewardship of their lands and seas while respecting customary rights and traditional knowledge.
As we celebrate World Environment Day, these initiatives demonstrate that lasting conservation is achieved when communities, science and traditional knowledge work together to protect nature and build a more resilient future.
The SOMACORE Programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The COLORS Project is implemented by IUCN with funding support from the European Union.
