Beyond deforestation: redesigning how we protect and value tropical forests (analysis)

Heading into COP30, where tropical forests are set to be a central theme, it seemed worth looking today’s trajectories a little further forward and imagine where they might lead. Part 1 looked at possible fates of tropical forests. The first act of the forest crisis was destruction. The second, if there is to be one, must be design—deliberate, structural, and sustained. The world already knows what is burning; what it hasn’t decided is whether it truly wants to stop it.

Reef restoration shouldn’t just be about growing corals - but also bringing reefs to life, new study suggests

Over the past twenty years, coral reef restoration has seen unprecedented growth worldwide. From Indonesia to the Caribbean, thousands of projects have been launched with the goal of “saving” coral reefs - often by planting coral fragments or building artificial reef structures.

Blue Carbon Ecosystems of the South Pacific: Ecosystem Assessments in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu

The project contributes to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)’s component of the Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (or MACBLUE) project, aiming to “contribute to human and technical capacity to the mapping, management and rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems.” The MACBLUE project is a joint effort between the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Pacific Community (SPC) and SPREP.

Blue Carbon Ecosystems of the South Pacific: Field-Based Carbon Assessments in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu

The project contributes to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)’s component of the
Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (or MACBLUE) project, aiming to “contribute to human and
technical capacity to the mapping, management and rehabilitation of coastal ecosystems.” The MACBLUE project is a
joint effort between the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), The Pacific Community (SPC) and
SPREP. Its aim is to “strengthen coastal biodiversity conservation and management through protection and rehabilitation

9th issue of the EU Copernicus Ocean State Report

The 9th issue of the EU Copernicus Ocean State Report is now available online, published alongside an interactive summary detailing key aspects of the report for policymakers, members of the Blue Economy, and the public. This year’s report emphasises the deeply interconnected nature of the impacts of ocean change with changes in marine ecosystems, human society, culture, and the economy, highlighting 2023 and 2024 records and extreme events.

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Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) launches Species report with updated richer insights

IBAT has released a new Species report designed to enhance biodiversity reporting and conservation planning. The new report represents a major step forward in providing users with sharper data, broader species coverage, and deeper analytical insights, all aligned with the targets and goals of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity

Guidebook for assessing and improving social equity in marine conservation

This guidebook is based on an understanding that social equity refers to fairness and justice with respect to the ways that people are recognised, treated, or impacted by conservation initiatives. It is also grounded on a common framework for assessing equity that includes six dimensions: recognitional, procedural, management, environmental, distributional, and contextual and structural equity.

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Malaysia's Timber Colony: Exposing Malaysia’s Grip Over Papua New Guinea’s Forests

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a major exporter of tropical logs worldwide. This report investigates the role of Malaysian companies and individuals in large-scale forest clearance in PNG through the misuse of Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs). Despite a 2023 moratorium on new FCA licences, widespread deforestation and human rights abuses persist.

Marine spatial planning in ocean governance: Fijian perspectives

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a globally established tool to support integrated ocean management. As Small Island Developing States (SIDS) embrace MSP, this study focuses on Fiji as it begins its MSP process alongside the implementation of newly established ocean-related policies and legislation. The study investigates whether MSP has the potential to address the challenges identified by various actors and, if so, to explore how this can be achieved.