Kiwa WISH+

21/08/2026

🌿From 4-6 August 2026, community representatives from across Kolombangara Island 🇸🇧 came together at Ringgi alongside Wildlife Conservation Society WCS Solomon Islands, Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association (KIBCA), Kolombangara Forest Products Limited , government representatives, and other key partners to develop a shared vision for the island's future.

Supported by the Kiwa Initiative's Kiwa WISH+ Project, the workshop focused on creating a long-term Joint Vision and Action Plan for Kolombangara Island. This workshop and the development of the Joint Vision mark an important first step towards a broader objective: developing a sustainable financing strategy to support integrated watershed management and long-term biodiversity conservation across Kolombangara Island.

Together, participants agreed on a vision of:
"One Kolombangara, empowered by strong governance, where Indigenous knowledge, blended with beneficial modern concepts, is used to protect, manage and restore our land and sea and build a healthy, prosperous life for every family into the future."

The workshop identified long-term aspirations focused on:
✅ Strengthening culture, language, and customary governance
✅ Improving education, livelihoods, water, sanitation, and infrastructure
✅ Building resilient communities and protecting our unique environment and biodiversity
The draft Action Plan is currently being prepared for further consultation and input from Kolombangara communities, including Honiara-based individuals and other stakeholders in the coming months.

will coordinate the next steps in this process and will be the main point of contact. Anyone with questions or wanting more information can contact Wheatly: ([email protected]) and Anisha ([email protected]).

03/07/2026

🌿6 Manus clans renew commitment to protect the Manus Great Central Forest 🌿

Six clans from Manus Province in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 have renewed and extended their Conservation Deed agreements, protecting more than 1,295 hectares of the globally significant Manus Great Central Forest.

The agreements, signed during a ceremony at Lehewa Village, reinforce community-led conservation efforts that now protect 6,390 hectares of forest (8.5% of the Manus Great Central Forest).

The renewed commitments range from three to five years, reflecting a growing dedication to safeguarding biodiversity, clean water, food security, and traditional livelihoods for future generations.

Supported by the Kiwa Initiative's + Project, the process included Free, Prior and Informed Consent , legal reviews, and community consultations to ensure clans could make informed decisions about managing their customary lands and natural resources.

👏 Congratulations to the Kehou, Chapwe-Tolau, Wulei, Ko-owai and Apon-Lilan clans of North Coast and the Ko-ou Aiyieu clan of South Coast Manus for their leadership in renewing their conservation deeds.

05/06/2026

“It’s today!
WED26

Wildlife Conservation Society through the Kiwa Initiative's + project, is supporting climate action through forest restoration initiatives, with recent work carried out alongside partner communities in Manus Province 🇵🇬.

In May 2026, WCS in PNG's Manus team, alongside Forester Stanley Geremba, visited the inland Manus communities of Tetidu Local Level Government (LLG), Piti Rait, Ndrapitou 2, and Tawi Ul’Ndrau-uh, to deliver hands-on training in nursery establishment and seedling production.

🫘Community members learned how to collect seeds from native tree species, prepare soil and establish small-scale nurseries to support ongoing reforestation efforts. These practical skills will enable communities to grow and manage their own planting materials, an essential step toward restoring degraded landscapes.

🌱 Through interactive sessions and demonstrations, participants explored how locally adapted species can help rebuild natural buffer zones around water catchments. These areas, currently affected by erosion, sedimentation and vegetation loss, are critical for maintaining clean and safe water sources.

🌿 This work is also key to climate change adaptation. By restoring vegetation cover and strengthening natural buffer zones, communities can reduce the impacts of heavier rainfall, flooding and erosion, while improving water retention during dry periods. Healthy forests act as natural protection systems, making communities more resilient to climate variability and extreme weather.

🌳The training also created space for knowledge exchange, where community members shared traditional insights on tree and shrub species that have long supported forest ecosystems.
Women, men, youth and customary landowners all participated actively in the training, building skills and contributing to the reforestation efforts.

By strengthening local capacity in nursery and seedling production, these communities are laying the foundation for long-term restoration, climate resilience, and water security.

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22/05/2026

🌏🌿 Celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May) 🌿🌏

Earlier this month, through the Kiwa Initiative's Kiwa WISH+ project, communities across Kolombangara Island, Western Province 🇸🇧 took action to protect and restore biodiversity right where it matters most — along rivers and landscapes.

🌱 More than 100 trees were planted in Korare and Hapi
📍 Several reforestation sites were identified for future tree planting in Varu 1 & Varu 2

By restoring vegetation along riverbanks and slopes, we are:
✅ Protecting vital water sources
✅ Reducing soil erosion
✅ Supporting habitats for local biodiversity
✅ Strengthening climate resilience

These efforts, led by WCS Solomon Islands staff and community members, show how local action contributes to global biodiversity goals.
🌿 Biodiversity starts with us — in our land, our forests, and our communities.

09/04/2026

We’re pleased to share the successful delivery of the Kiwa WISH+ Decision-Support Tool Training Workshops in Honiara (Solomon Islands)🇸🇧 and Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea)🇵🇬!

Across both workshops, we welcomed 33 participants from 22 institutions, bringing together expertise from across the environment, health, and water sectors.

These sessions introduced a new spatial decision-support tool, developed in collaboration with the The University of Queensland, designed to support integrated watershed management by exploring watershed risks and evaluating scenarios that combine Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene interventions and their potential to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases. Participants had the opportunity to test the tool hands-on, exploring how different strategies can influence disease risks and environmental outcomes.

We were encouraged by the very positive feedback received, as well as the strong interest in the tool’s potential applications. The discussions also highlighted several promising avenues for further development, which will help refine the tool and ensure it meets the needs of decision-makers across the region.

A big thank you to all participants for their engagement and valuable insights, and to our partners for their continued collaboration. We look forward to the next steps in strengthening integrated approaches to watershed management, public health, and climate resilience in the Pacific.



European Union in the Pacific, AFD - Agence Française de Développement, La politique étrangère du Canada – Affaires mondiales Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Kiwa Initiative WCS in PNG WCS Solomon Islands Wildlife Conservation Society

23/03/2026

🚰Access to safe water is not only an environmental and public health issue, it is also a gender equality issue.

Across Melanesia, women and girls are often the primary managers of household water, yet they have historically had limited representation in water governance and decision-making. Through the Kiwa WISH+ project, funded by the Kiwa Initiative, we are working with communities in Fiji🇫🇯, Papua New Guinea🇵🇬, and Solomon Islands🇸🇧 to ensure that water solutions deliver benefits for both people and ecosystems, and that these benefits are shared equitably.

📍Equity and inclusion have been built into the project from the start. Women and girls were a central part of our Free, Prior and Informed Consent Process. Newly established water committees in Manus, PNG include women and marginalized groups, ensuring their voices shape decisions on water governance. Training in Nature-based Solutions is offered to both men and women, helping break down traditional barriers and supporting women’s leadership in natural resource management. Youth, customary landowners, and local leaders are also actively engaged, ensuring that water management reflects community priorities, cultural values, and traditional knowledge.

💧This , we celebrate the vital link between water and gender. When women and marginalized groups have a seat at the table, water solutions become stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable for everyone.


European Union in the Pacific AFD - Agence Française de Développement, La politique étrangère du Canada – Affaires mondiales Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Kiwa Initiative in partnership with the University of Sydney, The University of Queensland and Wildlife Conservation Society WCS Melanesia WCS-Fiji, WCS in PNG WCS Solomon Islands

18/03/2026

In the Solomon Islands 🇸🇧, we partnered with the Rural Water Sanitation and Hygiene (RWASH) team and Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association (KIBCA) to carry out WASH assessments across Kiwa WISH+ communities on Kolombangara Island, Western Province. This work supports the implementation of action plans developed through our Water and Sanitation Safety Plans (WSSPs), while identifying practical solutions to strengthen local water systems and sanitation facilities.

In February and March, the team worked closely with community WASH committees to review their WSSPs and assess priority needs, ranging from repairing water systems to improving sanitation infrastructure. The findings will guide proposals for community-led, practical interventions that can be implemented in the coming months. This work also contributes to strengthening climate resilience by helping communities anticipate and adapt to climate-related risks such as flooding, drought, and water contamination.

This work was carried out with strong support from WCS Solomon Islands, Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association (KIBCA) and the dedicated WASH committees in each community.

Together, we’re supporting safer, more resilient water and sanitation systems for families across Kolombangara.

+ Initiative

19/02/2026

💧Kiwa WISH+ and WCS Fiji | Peer Learning & Knowledge Exchange Workshop🌱

WCS-Fiji has officially kicked off a Peer Learning and Knowledge Exchange Workshop, bringing together community representatives, government agencies, and partners from the districts of Bureta, Lovoni, Namalata, Dawasamu, Nakorotubu, Kubulau, Dama, and Bua.

The workshop creates a space for open dialogue, practical learning, and collaboration, showcasing experiences and lessons from the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) and Kiwa WISH+ projects. Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, participants are reflecting on progress, sharing insights, addressing challenges, and learning from cross-community experiences and successful approaches.

Together, participants will identify clear pathways to strengthen nature-based solutions nationwide and deepen the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and GEDSI with scientific approaches for climate adaptation and ecosystem-based management.

This initiative reflects a shared commitment to empowering communities, amplifying local knowledge, and advancing resilient, nature-based solutions across Fiji 🇫🇯.

10/02/2026

Wildlife Conservation Society WCS Solomon Islands is inviting qualified consultants to submit their proposal for this exciting opportunity to support the Kiwa WISH+ project activities in the Solomon Islands 🇸🇧

📢We are inviting consultants to submit their proposal to support our Kiwa WISH+ project in Solomon Islands.

📆Due Date: Wednesday 25 February 2026!!
📧Email proposals to:
Alec Hughes – [email protected]
Alice Latinne – [email protected]

📍To assist you with the application, visit our website for the Request for Proposal and Terms of Reference including other important templates (downloadable 🔗) 👇
https://solomonislands.wcs.org/Who-we-are/Careers/ID/25870

03/02/2026

The Kiwa WISH+ project is supporting the development of ecosystem-based management (EBM) plans in the Dama and Kubulau districts of Bua Province in Fiji.

Two participatory workshops were completed by WCS-Fiji in each district in 2025, and further consultations with community representatives will take place in the coming months to ensure the plans reflect local priorities and knowledge.

The plans focus on strengthening watershed health by integrating Village Development Plans and Water and Sanitation Safety Plans, and by restoring degraded catchments through targeted revegetation and improved land-use practices.

Through the Kiwa Initiative's support for locally led, nature-based solutions, these ecosystem-based approaches enhance climate change adaptation and resilience by improving water security, stabilising soils, and helping communities better cope with heavier rainfall, flooding, and dry periods, while supporting sustainable resource management under iTaukei land tenure systems.

European Union in the Pacific, AFD - Agence Française de Développement, La politique étrangère du Canada – Affaires mondiales Canada, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Kiwa Initiative in partnership with the University of Sydney, The University of Queensland, Wildlife Conservation Society 🇫🇯🇵🇬🇸🇧