September 4, 2025
[Apia, Samoa,Thursday, 4 September 2025] – Conservation International and Live & Learn Environmental Education today signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the leadership of local communities in conservation, restoration, and sustainable development across the Pacific.
The partnership will amplify community leadership and action to protect upland forests and related ecosystems, which play a critical role in safeguarding biodiversity, building climate resilience, and sustaining livelihoods. Together, the two organizations will elevate community voices and support locally driven solutions that advance both environmental sustainability and human well-being. The potential geographies at this stage for this partnership include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomons, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
This MOU signing is timely given that CI is a recipient of a grant from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which LLEE and the National University of Samoa are delivery partners for.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- Supporting community-led protection and restoration of upland forests, building on local stewardship traditions and knowledge systems.
- Strengthening biodiversity monitoring and data generation to enable communities to influence decision-making through evidence-based action.
- Promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities that harness community innovation and enterprise.
- Advancing equity and social inclusion, ensuring diverse voices and leadership are central to conservation outcomes.
- Designing and implementing conservation finance mechanisms that reinforce local ownership and long-term sustainability.
“Local communities have been the custodians of Pacific ecosystems for generations. By working together with Live & Learn, we aim to support and scale their leadership, traditions, and innovation in shaping a nature-positive, climate-resilient future,” said Susana Waqainabete-Tuisese, Vice-President Pacific Islands, Conservation International.
“Live & Learn has always believed that lasting environmental solutions are community-driven. This partnership with Conservation International will allow us to strengthen those solutions, bringing together knowledge, resources, and shared values to support people and nature across the region,” said Christian Nielsen, Executive Director, Live & Learn Environmental Education.
Waqainabete-Tuisese added, ‘Conservation International and Live & Learn share a deep commitment to supporting community leadership in conservation. This collaboration will deliver integrated climate resilience and conservation outcomes through joint initiatives, shared learning, and alignment with regional and global priorities.’
ENDS
For more information contact:
Francine V. Elisaia, Communications Coordinator, Samoa - Conservation International
+685 7526986 | felisaia@conservation.org
About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Visit Conservation.org for more, and follow us on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.