Kiribati is making steady progress in shaping how its vast ocean spaces are understood, valued and managed for the future. Through its nationally led Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) process, Kiribati is bringing together local knowledge, government leadership and technical expertise to support decisions on conservation, sustainable use and long-term ocean stewardship.
A milestone was reached in July 2026 when the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee hosted a Traditional Knowledge Workshop. Led by Kiribati agencies and practitioners, the workshop explored how Traditional Ecological Knowledge, customary marine tenure systems and local governance practices can inform modern marine spatial planning. Participants also strengthened their understanding of the Te Umwanibong Act 2022 and Kiribati's national research processes, helping build local capacity to incorporate cultural knowledge into future planning and decision-making.
Earth Sciences New Zealand supported the workshop as a facilitation partner and technical advisor, contributing social science and marine spatial planning expertise through the Climate and Biodiversity Smart (CaB-Smart) MSP programme. The work was delivered alongside local leads, including the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs and the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee.
The workshop was supported through the Climate and Biodiversity Smart (CaB-Smart) Marine Spatial Planning Programme, funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). SPREP leads this component of the programme's regional implementation, with Earth Sciences NZ providing technical support alongside regional partners including SPC and national MSP teams across Kiribati, Cook Islands, Niue, Palau and Solomon Islands. Earth Sciences NZ social scientist Dr Patrina Dumaru and marine ecologist Dr Tom Brough are supporting the programme through facilitation, capacity-building and technical advice, working closely with the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs and the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee.
For more info on Kiribati’s progress: https://www.mfor.gov.ki/node/57
And on other projects: https://niwa.co.nz/pacific/pasifika-panui/issue-3-march-2026/advancing-marine-spatial-planning-kiribati