Group photo of participants during the GP R2R Inception workshop.
Guadalcanal Ridge to Reef Joint Inception & Stakeholder Workshop, Hosted by TNC and Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
Holiday Resort, Henderson, Malanga Ward, Guadalcanal Province, June 17, 2026.
The Guadalcanal Ridge to Reef Project is funded by GIZ (German Government), under the “Solutions for Marine and the Coastal Resilience” (SOMACORE Programme) in the Coral Triangle.
Today’s Inception and stakeholder mapping workshop marks a collaborative joint-effort between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG).
By launching this 3-day inception workshop, TNC and GPG are setting the stage in:
- Building a shared understanding of the project scope, goals and intended impact.
- Agreeing on practical ways to coordinate, implement and monitor progress.
- Strengthening the sense of joint ownership and commitment among stakeholders.
TNC Interim Country Lead, Natasha Sokeleke, emphasized that R2R recognises the interconnection of our forest, rivers, reefs and communities. And managing these systems in isolation is no longer enough.
Sokeleke further stated that the project will only succeed if it is inclusive, participatory, and locally grounded, with collaborative information and data sharing across communities, provincial and national level.
That communities, youths, women and customary resource owners essentially shape solutions that are both effective and sustainable.
GPG Environmental Lead, Ben Salepo, clarified that the ridge to reef project aligns well with the Guadalcanal province’s long-term strategic objectives, the national priorities and our international commitments. R2R is essentially a conservation effort woven into the broader development vision for Guadalcanal province and its people, by providing a strategic pathway with clear directions, translating into tangible benefits.
Speaking during the Inception workshop, Mrs Stella Kokopu, President of the Guadalcanal Province Council of Women (GPCW), expressed deep gratitude for the launch of the Ridge to Reef (R2R) project, noting that this marks the first time such an initiative is being implemented in Guadalcanal Province. She acknowledged the pressing environmental challenges facing the island, particularly the impacts of increasing unregulated logging and mining activities on local ecosystems. She illustrated that GPCW fully supports the project and called on all stakeholders—government, communities, and partners—to work collectively together and ensure the success of this Ridge to Reef initiative.
The workshop was witnessed and attended by Key SIG Ministries, NGOs, Community Groups and Associations including Traditional Leaders and community reps.
The 3 days Inception workshop started on Wednesday 17th of June and will end this Friday 19th of June 2026. This Inception and stakeholder workshop sets the foundation upcoming activities for the Guadalcanal Ridge to Reef Project such as Four Participatory Workshops that will include communities in the 4 regions of Guadalcanal, Awareness Programs to name a few.