Mangrove restoration in Fiji: carbon storage, coastal protection, and climate finance opportunities

A climate advocate in Fiji is calling for more investment in nature-based solutions, specifically mangrove restoration, to protect coastal communities from climate change. Mangroves absorb carbon and shield shorelines from erosion and rising seas. The article notes that research on mangrove carbon storage could inform policy and unlock climate finance for restoration efforts across Fiji. The piece also highlights the cultural and food security impacts of climate change on coastal communities, including loss of ancestral land and declining fish populations. It argues for stronger representation of island communities in climate decision making at the UN level. For readers tracking nature-based carbon projects, this is a concrete example of how blue carbon ecosystems are being positioned for funding and policy support in the Pacific.