Nakau Programme

01/09/2026

For Padezaka, protecting the forest was always about more than carbon credits. It was about climate resilience, plants and animals, clean rivers and healthy coastal communities. And now they've been verified as an operational carbon project, allowing them to earn income from protecting 4,800 hectares of old-growth rainforest.

Such good news for Padezaka—who have the largest protected forest area in South Choiseul and who are part of the well-known Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project.

The community was supported to reach this verification milestone as part of the Conservation Finance for Forest and Communities project through the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade—and in collaboration with NRDF, Nakau and Live & Learn Environmental Education.

For the Padezaka people of South Choiseul, the decision to keep their forest standing has never been just about carbon credits. It's about clean rivers,

27/08/2026

Sobehatunga forest is now an official and legal Protected Area! From logging to , this community has really see the impact of logging and what a forest can be when it’s restored over many decades. Sobehatunga Vice President, Kadu, shares his hopes for this new chapter for Viru Harbour’s twin communities of Tombe and Tetemara. Supported by NRDF, Nakau and Live & Learn—as part of the Solomon Islands Threshold Program.

26/08/2026

Hot off the press, news is out that Sobehatunga Conservation Area in Viru Harbour has been designated for protected area status. 🌳🌳🌳🌳👏

Congratulations to the community in Viru who have been working tirelessly towards this moment since 2023 with incredible support from NRDF. Official celebrations are to come but for now, here's a story reminder about what makes the Sobehatunga forest so special. 🐸🪺

The Viru Harbour (Sobehatunga) conservation and carbon work is supported by NRDF, Nakau and Live & Learn Environmental Education—as part of the Solomon Islands Threshold Program.

Sobehatunga Conservation Area is a hum of life. A recent survey of plants, animals and insects has shown this secondary lowland forest is an important habitat for many of Solomon Islands's wildlife.

09/08/2026

On International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we spotlight what it means when communities and Indigenous Peoples lead on forest conservation and restoration. 

Caring for land and water, supporting the next generation, cultural identity, knowledge, sovereignty—these are such gifts for our Earth and our time. And it’s why Indigenous Peoples should always have space to be heard in global climate talks and ecosystem market decisions.

07/08/2026

In the forest, dinner is gathered from the river and surrounds: eel, freshwater prawns, river snails and otta (wild fern). Cassava is carried from the village to supplement the meal. Other than coffee and sugar, there is little else the rangers need for food.

“This is our breakfast, lunch and dinner,” says Senitki with a grin, as he returns from fishing in a deep waterhole—his bucket brimming with small eels, huge prawns and snails. Here, homemade spears and goggles are essential gear for any forest trip.

📷 Tom Vierus



The Ideal Drawa Eco Retreat Live and Learn Fiji

31/07/2026

It was truly special to be part of Lukulobere's Protected Area ceremony in this week—officially protecting 563 hectares of forest that sits within the Babatana lands in South Choiseul.

Chief Jeffrey Damusoe Sipuda says this moment “means a lot when reflecting back on our challenges but, finally, we succeeded. This milestone has made us secure and protects our land and resources from outside threats for our future generations”.

Lukulobere have been supported on this journey by the Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Communities, Natural Resources Development Foundation (NRDF), Nakau and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They also received critical development support from Bread for the World and GIZ from 2023–2025.

Today also happens to be , so there is extra reason to celebrate forest conservation and the role of rangers and Indigenous customary landowners in protecting nature. 🌳

📷 Studiohomegrown Productions

Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project

22/07/2026

Not everything we share is positive. Sasamungga—a normally, green and lush village in South Choiseul— is still recovering from Tropical Maila way back in April.

Our thoughts are with the wider community and all the members of the Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project who are still very much deep in the recovery process four months on.

Read their story: https://nakau.org/news/the-impact-of-cyclone-maila-on-choiseul

What this does highlight is how forest carbon projects and credits are a key form of climate finance in places where climate change is undermining efforts to improve lives.

Climate justice is part of the carbon story, and should be a critical factor when deciding where to source credits.

24/06/2026

The Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project just got even bigger as Sikatuku Tribe joined the initiative, with plans to form a legal protected area across 571 hectares of tropical rainforest.

A big congratulations to Sakatuku for standing for conservation. And thanks to New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their ongoing support of the Babatana project. The forests of Choiseul are pretty amazing and worth protecting. 🌳🌳🌟

22/06/2026

Every rainforest is just a little bit different—which is what makes them so special. 🌿

But they all do a vital role: storing carbon, helping regulate our climate, supporting community life, and providing habitat for wildlife.

This , let’s celebrate and protect these incredible ecosystems. Because an old-growth, healthy rainforest is the best kind of forest. 🌳

18/05/2026

Spending time in nature with forest rangers and community is a highlight of our work. The people behind the Drawa Forest Project are some of the most inspiring folks we've met—their passion for conservation when surrounded by logging is testament to this.

Don't forget to read their story! 🌳 https://stories.nakau.org/a-new-era-conservation-fiji 🌳 These custodians put so much work into protecting nearly 4000 hectares of stunning forest, and their story is an important one to share because it’s about the journey to now. Choosing conservation over logging.

A heartfelt thank you to Drawa Block Forest Community Cooperative for having us recently, and especially to Jerry, Senitiki, Kinijoti, Inoke, Lidiana and Niumaia Nalevea for your time and the knowledge shared. There are so many incredible photos that came out of this visit, and we haven’t even got to the bird and nature ones yet. Coming soon. 🐦

Drawa have recently established a new alternative business too, a beautiful retreat in Drawa Village—The Ideal Drawa Eco Retreat. It's a special place up there. 🌺

📷 Tom Vierus

Live and Learn Fiji