Palau Dive Adventure – Spring of 2027
OneReef is organizing a uniquely curated experience exploring Palau’s reefs, its rich culture, and community-driven ocean conservation. If you would like to be part of
Inspiring stories of stewardship
Filter by Category
Resurrected Community Organization Makes Early Gains to Boost Nanwap MPA
In 2020, OneReef formalized its Community Partnership Agreement with the five communities that manage Nanwap MPA. Shortly after that, MLMDA, a collaborative organization that the communities had created to help manage Nanwap, was revived, and a fundraising effort was launched. In our experience working with communities to manage MPAs, initiatives like these are a crucial success factor. Even so, we were taken by surprise at the speed with which the communities achieved their ambitious goal.
Building the Next Generation of Stewards
Traditional Stewardship skills are important to the identity of Micronesian communities and also for helping protect their oceans in the face of climate change and other global threats. The success of the Stewardship Skills Youth Summer Camp supported by OneReef last year has set the foundation for ongoing camps and classes. In the summer of 2021, OneReef supported and facilitated two different Stewardship Skills camps for youth which are helping preserve and pass on traditional knowledge.
Traditional Leaders Forum in Pohnpei
For centuries, Pohnpeians used traditional complex systems to protect their natural resources. These strict rules governed all clans’ behavior and ensured that Pohnpei’s rich coral reefs, mangroves, and forests provided food and economic livelihood to sustain themselves and future generations. Traditional resource management systems and stewardship systems have been diluted by modern approaches to regulate resource use and management. Modern approaches have also undermined the authority of indigenous communities to control their resources. Consequently, many traditional mangrove ecosystems have been lost and destroyed due to unsustainable harvesting and development practices and notable climate change impacts. On November 17th, traditional leaders made themselves heard!
Island Youth Learn Traditional Stewardship Skills
15 youth from Sonsorol successfully completed a two-month Traditional Stewardship Summer Camp where they learned about the traditional ways of living on Islands.
OneReef is 10 years old – and celebrating a 10 year community partnership!
We are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the first OneReef community partnership agreement! OneReef signed this formative agreement with the Tobi community (Hatohobei) in Palau, Micronesia, in 2010 to steward the community-owned Helen Reef Atoll.
The success of the Tobi partnership has sparked nine additional communities to join OneReef in our mission of vibrant reefs and thriving communities. To learn more about the history and inspiration behind OneReef’s community partnership agreements, read on.
Jackson Wild Presentation by Madelsar Ngiraingas
Ms. Madelsar Ngiraingas, based in Palau and manager of OneReef Community partnerships, spoke at the Jackson Wild Film Festival to explain the Palauan perspective on conservation. Read more to learn about her story.
To Go Far, Go Together: Three Lessons From the Field
August 2019
Aurora Oberg, OneReef’s new Director of Global Operations and Partnerships, shares three meaningful lessons from her experiences in conservation and social impact fields.
OneReef and Scripps train locals in hi-tech reef monitoring
March/April 2019
OneReef puts hi-tech in hands of local stewards to improve conservation outcomes: OneReef and our science partner, Scripps Oceanography, trained three OneReef Community Partner Teams to use a novel reef-monitoring technology. Read on about how it’s a win-win for all of us.
Ryan Hawley Awarded the Nia Tero Young Leaders Fellowship Program
In August 2018, Ryan Hawley, the son of Rhosa William Hawley of Ant Atoll, Pohnpei (a OneReef partner community), was awarded the Nia Tero Young Leaders Fellowship Program, which fosters young leaders who will take on key roles in conservation.
OneReef on NPR
We were thrilled to be featured this month as a guest on Listen Bay Area with host Armand Carr, which was also picked up by
OneReef Screens Chasing Coral at Montalvo Arts Center
The OneReef screening of the award-winning movie, Chasing Coral, was a sold-out event with a highly engaged audience. If you would like to organize a
OneReef Chosen As Blue Week Finalist
We are excited to announce that OneReef is one of only four finalists, out of 100+ applicants, selected to pursue support from sponsors of the
Get inspiring stories and updates from OneReef in your inbox
“Solving the problems associated with coral reef loss in the Pacific Island region requires more than just throwing resources at the problem. We must partner with communities that have deep-rooted and culturally significant relationships with the ocean.”
Christopher LaFranchi
Founder and President – OneReef