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Conservation International’s Guardians program is creating transformative change across the Pacific through Indigenous-led marine stewardship that bridges ancestral wisdom with cutting-edge science and modern education.
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.
What began in Samoa has achieved remarkable success: our culture-based ocean education is now formally institutionalized into the national primary school curriculum. Conservation International Aotearoa are currently expanding this transformative approach across Tokelau, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Fiji, demonstrating the power and demand of culture-led conservation for scale.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.