New Caledonia

Where Indigenous knowledge and science guide conservation from ridge to reef

Since 1996, Conservation International has worked alongside Indigenous communities, government agencies, researchers and local partners to protect New Caledonia’s unique biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience.

New Caledonia, a global biodiversity hotspot, is home to one of the world’s largest coral reef and lagoon systems. Its lands and waters support thousands of species — including many found nowhere else on Earth — as well as globally important marine species and fisheries. For the local Kanak people, these ecosystems are deeply connected to their culture and identity.

Our work brings together Indigenous knowledge, scientific research and local leadership to strengthen conservation, protect nature and ensure healthy ecosystems continue to support communities for generations to come.

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1996

OFFICE ESTABLISHED

22M

METRIC TONS

of irrecoverable carbon in New Caledonia1

133

VERTEBRATE SPECIES

that are endemic to New Caledonia2

3.4M

SQUARE KILOMETERS

of marine protected areas within New Caledonia’s waters3

Our focus includes

  • Supporting Kanak leadership and Indigenous stewardship — Ensuring stronger representation for local people in conservation decision-making.
  • Protecting oceans and coastal ecosystems — working with partners to strengthen management of the Natural Park of the Coral Sea, one of the largest protected areas in the world, to better support sustainable fisheries and advance marine conservation.
  • Ridge-to-reef conservation — protecting connected landscapes from mountains to oceans through restoration, climate resilience and nature-based solutions.

References

  1. Conservation International (2021, November). Irrecoverable Carbon. Retrieved January 2025, from https://www.conservation.org/irrecoverable-carbon
  2. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2024). Table 8a: Total, threatened, and EX & EW endemic species in each country [Fact sheet]. https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/summary-statistics#Summary%20Tables
  3. 30x30 SkyTruth. (2024, October). Marine Conservation Coverage. https://30x30.skytruth.org/progress-tracker?layers=6,144,7,145&settings=%7B%2522bbox%2522:%5B-167.96,-61.4,167.96,61.4%5D,%2522labels%2522:true%7D