Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Build remote island community resilience through socio-economic redesign and coral reef conservation

Ocean Toa (civil society organization), Moshun.Earth (private sector) (
Civil society organization
)
#OceanAction57857
    Description
    Description

    This commitment spotlights Manihiki (Cook Islands)'s action plan to restore its socio-economic fabric and the balance of its marine resources & coral reef ecosystem.
    Using a cross-sectoral approach, the case demonstrates how NGOs, private sector, indigenous community and impact investing can address the unique challenges of a remote atoll, including industry collapse, deep sea mining and depopulation, to create a replicable socio-economic model for small Pacific island states.
    Manihiki aims to transform its collapsed pearl industry into a sustainable income source for its people using an ocean conservation-based economic model that includes science-backed coral reef restoration, ecotourism and education.This commitment is delivered through the following workstreams:

    Socio-Economic Redesign:
    --> Diversification of Livelihoods: Reducing dependency on single industries (e.g. pearl farming) by promoting alternative income sources.
    --> Capacity Building and Education: Investing in skills training, vocational education, and entrepreneurship development to empower islanders with the knowledge and tools to adapt to changing economic landscapes.
    --> Strengthening Local Governance: Enhancing community-based decision-making, resource management, and conflict resolution mechanisms to foster self-reliance and social cohesion.
    --> Improved Market Access and Fair Trade: Facilitating equitable access to markets for island products, promoting value addition, and supporting fair trade practices to ensure economic benefits reach local communities.

    Coral Reef Conservation:
    --> Marine protected areas and Sustainable Fishing: Establishing and effectively managing marine protected areas to safeguard critical reef ecosystems, conserve biodiversity, and ensure sustainable fishing practices.
    --> Coral Reef Restoration: Implementing active coral restoration projects, including coral gardening and transplantation, to rehabilitate degraded reefs and enhance their resilience to climate change.
    --> Pollution Control and Waste Management: Reducing land-based pollution, improving waste management practices, and promoting sustainable tourism to minimize negative impacts on reef health.
    --> Climate Change Adaptation: Building resilience to climate change impacts (e.g., sea level rise, ocean acidification) through ecosystem-based adaptation strategies

    - Integration and Synergies:
    --> Ecotourism and Sustainable Livelihoods: Developing community-based ecotourism initiatives that provide alternative income sources, raise awareness about reef conservation, and incentivize sustainable resource management.
    --> Community-Based Reef Management: Empowering local communities to participate in reef monitoring, management, and conservation efforts, fostering a sense of ownership and stewardship.
    --> Knowledge Exchange and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Integrating scientific research with traditional ecological knowledge to inform sustainable resource management practices and enhance community resilience.

    By integrating socio-economic development with reef conservation, this holistic approach aims to create a sustainable future for remote island communities, where both human well-being and environmental health are prioritized.

    Partners

    Ocean Toa (civil society organization), Moshun.Earth (private sector), KŌRERO O TE 'ŌRAU (NGO)

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Ocean conservation-based economic model
    Coral reef restoration strategy & monitoring
    Training, indigenous, and scientific knowledge center
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Marine biologists, coral reef technicians
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
    ocean commitment banner
    False
    Action Network
    Ocean conference wheel logo
    Share
    FacebookTwitterLinkedIn
    Timeline
    01 April 2025 (start date)
    31 December 2026 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ocean Toa (civil society organization), Moshun.Earth (private sector)
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries
    Te Ipukarea Society (NGO)
    Ocean Basins
    South Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Coral reefs, Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    France
    France
    New Zealand
    New Zealand
    Headquarters
    France
    Contact Information

    Karine, CEO