Rebuilding reefs and livelihoods in PNG

Our program manager recently visited one of our coral nurseries in East New Britain, established by Emma Oliver and her organisation, the ENB Sea Keepers, and the results are incredibly encouraging.

Despite the region being under bleaching watch or alert since late 2023, one of the nurseries at Coreys Coral site is showing 100 percent survival among the heat tolerant corals collected in April. These corals have not only endured five months of higher than normal ocean temperatures but are now growing strongly, attracting more fish species and increasing marine life around the nursery.

To help protect rare species and increase coral biomass, the team has also begun fragmenting healthy corals onto ropes, including extremely rare acropora varieties. These fragments will continue growing through 2025 and 2026 and will be outplanted back onto damaged reef areas to strengthen long term reef resilience.

With another predicted bleaching event on the horizon, the ENB Sea Keepers are preparing to expand the nursery and respond quickly to protect both vulnerable and heat tolerant species. Their dedication reflects the power of locally led action to restore ecosystems, support community livelihoods, and safeguard the future of PNGs reefs.

Thank you for helping make this work possible. Your support allows communities in PNG to build hope and resilience even in the face of climate driven challenges.

It has been a busy and inspiring few months for our team in Papua New Guinea.

In June, Kyeema partnered with the National Capital District Commission to celebrate World Environment Day through a hands-on coral nursery education workshop at Ela Beach. Dozens of primary school students joined us to learn about the importance of coral reefs, the impact of plastic pollution, and how local action can help protect the marine environment.

One of the highlights of the day was the involvement of Julie Anne, an honours student from the University of Papua New Guinea who is volunteering with our team. Under her guidance, students had the opportunity to build coral nurseries and attach coral fragments. By the end of the workshop, two new coral nurseries were installed just offshore from Ela Beach, marking an exciting step toward future reef restoration.

Our coastal monitoring team has recently visited the nurseries at Tubusereia and Ela Beach and brought back glowing reports. Coral fragments are thriving, and each trip reveals new marine life returning to the area. Fish are coming back, and the reef is slowly rebuilding itself.

On Yule Island, where we are also leading mangrove restoration efforts, Susan and her team have been trialling new techniques to protect seedlings once they are transferred from the nursery to the beach. They have constructed small cement barriers around mature seedlings to shield them from tidal erosion. This experiment is still in its early stages, but initial results are promising and reflect the team’s dedication to finding practical, locally appropriate solutions.

From students and university volunteers to community leaders, the progress we are seeing is a testament to the power of locally led action. Your support through GlobalGiving is what makes this work possible.

Thank you for helping us grow these projects. Every contribution helps us protect coastal ecosystems and build a stronger, more sustainable future for communities in PNG.