Creating transformative change across the Pacific through Indigenous-led marine stewardship that bridges ancestral wisdom with cutting-edge science and modern education.
Why This Matters Now
With just over 50% of Pacific population demographics under 23 years old, we have a critical window to positively shape the next generation of ocean stewards. Pacific Island nations face unprecedented climate challenges, making culture-based environmental education not just important — but urgent.
A Proven Model
Scaling Across the Pacific
What began in Samoa has achieved remarkable success: our culture-based ocean education is now formally institutionalized into the national primary school curriculum. We are currently expanding this transformative approach across Tokelau, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Fiji, demonstrating the power and demand of culture-led conservation for scale.
How We're Revolutionizing
Ocean Education
- Traditional Voyaging Canoes as Living Classroom: Polynesian voyaging canoes serve as powerful platforms where children, youth and teachers experience hands-on environmental and cultural education. These floating classrooms connect young people to their proud ancestral maritime heritage while building understanding of modern ocean science and climate impacts.
- Community-Driven Citizen Science: We train communities to conduct vital marine research and monitoring using accessible technology, collecting eDNA and critical data on sharks, marine mammals, and reef health. This locally-led science enables communities to make informed decisions about their marine resources while contributing to national and regional management knowledge.
- Policy Integration at National Scale: Our success in Samoa demonstrates real-world impact: the government has institutionalized the Guardians program and teacher training into the national primary school curriculum, creating a sustainable foundation for ocean stewardship across an entire generation.
- Strategic Partnerships Amplifying Impact: Through vessels like the Gaualofa and Hinemoana II, we support Indigenous voyaging societies from Samoa, Fiji to Tonga, creating networks of ocean stewards connected by shared cultural heritage and conservation purpose - including work towards connecting the world's largest Indigenous-led marine protected area network.
The Bigger Picture:
Ocean Stewardship at Scale
This initiative represents more than education — it's about cultivating informed environmental champions who understand both traditional knowledge and contemporary science. As Pacific Island nations face unprecedented climate challenges, our Guardians program creates the foundation for community-driven solutions that will protect marine ecosystems for generations to come.
By supporting traditional voyaging societies and their voyaging canoes as platforms for education, research, and cultural connection, we're not just teaching ocean science — we're rekindling the deep spiritual and practical relationships between Pacific peoples and their ocean environment.
From the 6th – 10th May, Conservation International Samoa in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Conservation International Global Exchange Program co-hosted its first ever international Youth Exchange Workshop titled, “Heritage Guardians – Youth Voices in Conservation,” with the theme of “Embracing Heritage and Resilience.” The exchange catalyzed youth engagement and empowerment and highlighted the remarkable Guardians Experiential Environmental Education Program, launched in 2018, which has become a flagship initiative for Conservation International in Samoa. Participants came from Aotearoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Palau, Samoa, Singapore and the United States and shared successes, ideas, and lessons learned in youth programs across the Asia-Pacific and the wider Conservation International community. This youth exchange would not have been possible with the support of our partners; Conservation International Global Exchange Program, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Blue Nature Alliance, Waitt Foundation, Blackmore Foundation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade NZ, European Union and the Samoa Care Project.