Melanesian leaders plan the world’s largest Indigenous-led marine reserve to protect ancestral waters and biodiversity.
At the UN Ocean Conference, the governments of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu announced their intention to establish the Melanesian Ocean Reserve, aimed at protecting the ancestral waters, homelands, and peoples of the southwestern Pacific. This region is recognized as one of the world’s most biodiverse marine areas. Conservation efforts are expected to support the economic and cultural well-being of hundreds of Indigenous communities while contributing to global climate, biodiversity, and ocean sustainability goals.
The Melanesian Ocean Reserve is planned to be the world’s first Indigenous-led multinational ocean reserve. Upon completion, it will cover at least 6 million square kilometers of ocean and islands—an area comparable in size to the Amazon rainforest. The reserve will include the combined national waters of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea, and will connect to the protected waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone of New Caledonia.
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister highlighted the long-standing stewardship of Indigenous peoples in managing these waters and emphasized the collaborative effort to create the ocean reserve to honor Indigenous identities, livelihoods, and cultural connections.
The Vanuatu Minister for Environment noted that establishing a transboundary corridor of traditionally managed ocean space aligns with national ocean policy objectives and expressed hope that the reserve will protect ancestral waters from unsustainable exploitation. He also indicated that Indigenous stewardship of the reserve could inspire similar initiatives globally.
Although the formal announcement was made by Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the governments of Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia are expected to join the Melanesian Ocean Reserve.
Both Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have committed to contributing their archipelagic waters and adjacent areas to the reserve, allowing only sustainable economic activities aligned with Indigenous values.
The Melanesian Ocean Reserve initiative was developed by Indigenous leaders from the region during the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Colombia last year. Key figures include the Ministers responsible for Environment and Climate Change from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. The initiative has received support from nonprofits Nia Tero and the Islands Knowledge Institute (IKI).
Nia Tero, an organization led by an Indigenous CEO and a predominantly Indigenous board, facilitates funding for Indigenous Peoples globally. Its CEO described the initiative as a means to realize ancestral knowledge and responsibility in ocean stewardship.
The Islands Knowledge Institute, led by Solomon Islands-based Indigenous ecologist Dr. Edgar Pollard, has played a central role in incubating the reserve concept and facilitating discussions among Melanesian leaders. Dr. Pollard noted that the initiative resonates strongly because it reflects a deep, home-like relationship with the ocean, emphasizing protection through this connection.
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