Fiji and Solomon Islands Collaborate on Communication Strategy for Coral Reef Rescue

SUVA, FIJI – 5^th April 2025 – Experts and officials from Fiji and the Solomon Islands convened in Suva from April 23rd to 25th, 2025, for a crucial Coral Reef Rescue (CRR) National Hub – Communication strategy design workshop.

The three-day workshop aimed to strengthen efforts in protecting vital coral reef ecosystems through enhanced communication and engagement with the objectives to;

• Co-design a country specific engagement and communication strategy in support of the CRR National Hub
• Develop a practical implementation action plan for the strategy; and
• Enhance the capacity of the participants to effectively put the strategy into action.

This initiative directly supports the broader goal of the sustainable management of resources and protection of the environment, which is fundamental to the well-being and resilience of both nations.

The workshop was facilitated by experts from the Centre for Communication and Social Change (CfCSC) at The University of Queensland, including Associate Professor Elske van de Fliert and Senior Lecturer Skye Doherty, specialists in engagement for sustainable development goals and advocacy.

Participants included representatives from key government ministries and conservation organisations in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, highlighting a collaborative approach. From the Solomon Islands, participants included officials from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) respectively, alongside the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. The MECDM’s involvement underscores the link between this work and national efforts in the country to protect its marine resources. Fiji was represented by WCS, the Department of Fisheries (MoFF), the Department of Forestry (MoFF), and the Department of Environment (MECC), reflecting a commitment to resource management and environmental protection.

The workshop programme was designed to be highly interactive, featuring sessions on mapping the National Hub communication ecosystem, identifying and analysing stakeholders, and developing strategy ingredients. Participants also engaged in investigating key issues affecting coral reefs, exploring past challenges and imagining desired futures. Creative thinking sessions focused on reframing perspectives and using stories for social change, followed by planning activities such as backcasting to identify key steps needed to achieve future goals. The final day was dedicated to refining the communication strategy design and developing a detailed workplan for implementation over two, five and ten-year timelines.

The outcomes of the workshop are expected to provide the CRR National Hubs in Fiji and the Solomon Islands with clear, actionable strategies to engage stakeholders effectively and communicate the critical importance of coral reef conservation within the broader context of environmental protection and climate resilience.

The workshop is made possible through funding provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project involves a collaborative effort among several key implementing partners, with the University of Queensland (UQ) as the Lead Executing Agency for the project, guiding the overall strategy and implementation. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-US) is also an implementing partner, contributing to the project’s goals, and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) acting as the National Technical Facilitator and is the in-country lead in the Solomon Islands, directly managing activities on the ground.

This collective “epic journey” marks an important step taken towards strengthening  the resilience of precious coral ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Welcome and closing remarks were delivered by Neelam Bhan of WCS Fiji and Christian Manepolo of WCS Solomon Islands.