BY NED GAGAHE
The Solomon Islands is gearing up to unveil the Melanesian Ocean Reserve (MOR) initiative at Climate Week in New York, a bold and transformative project that promises to set a new standard for ocean conservation.
This unprecedented Indigenous-led initiative aims to protect the vast oceanic heritage of the southwestern Pacific.
Later this month, the government will present the MOR, which spans over 6 million square kilometers of ocean, covering the national waters of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea, while linking to the protected waters of New Caledonia.
Speaking at a sideline event yesterday on the Melanesian Ocean Reserve Declaration, Polycarp Paea, Minister for Environment and Climate Change of the Solomon Islands, expressed pride in the progress made.
“This initiative, the first of its kind globally, seeks to safeguard marine ecosystems while ensuring the cultural and economic vitality of our people,” Paea remarked.
“Our vision is ambitious, yet it is grounded in the lived experiences of our communities, who have long been the true stewards of the ocean.”
The Melanesian Ocean Reserve was first declared in June 2025 by the governments of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Minister Paea emphasized that the next phase of the initiative will focus on turning the Declaration into concrete action, with success depending on several key areas: the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific research, building Indigenous-led blue economies, and fostering regional solidarity.
At the heart of the Reserve’s vision is the Four Paddles Framework, which outlines four main pillars of action:
• Enhanced Ocean Surveillance and Monitoring: Strengthening community-led ocean guardianship through better monitoring systems.
• Indigenous-Led Blue Economies: Creating sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous communities tied to ocean conservation.
• Cultural Reconnection Through Transport: Developing transport systems that respect both cultural connections and environmental responsibility.
• Weaving Traditional Wisdom with Scientific Knowledge: Merging ancestral knowledge with modern science to protect marine ecosystems.

“For our people, the ocean is not just a source of life – it is a spiritual and cultural lifeline,” Paea said.
“This initiative ensures that our rightful place within the ocean is not just recognized, but upheld. We are its stewards, not outsiders.”
In collaboration with the Islands Knowledge Institute and Nia Tero, alongside the governments of Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands is laying the foundation for a model of Indigenous-led conservation that is capturing global attention.