Representatives from across the Pacific have come together in Bua to exchange knowledge and experiences on sustainable farming, conservation and climate resilience.

The three-day Capitalisation of Learning Exchange (CAPEX) Workshop was held at the Mudrenicagi Organic Learning Farm in Wainunu, Bua, bringing together participants from Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia and New Caledonia.

Organised through the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network (POLFN) project under the Pacific Community (SPC), the workshop involved practitioners working in agriculture, forestry and conservation under Kiwa-supported projects.

The discussions centred on how nature-based solutions can be incorporated into everyday community activities and sustained beyond the duration of externally funded projects.

Participants also examined ways to strengthen community ownership and ensure sustainable practices become part of long-term development efforts.

POLFN Project Manager Fuatino Fatiaki said the workshop provided an opportunity for practitioners from different sectors to share experiences, discuss challenges within their communities and identify practical solutions.

He said the discussions were also aimed at supporting efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Hosted at the Mudrenicagi Organic Learning Farm, the programme included farm visits, group discussions and practical activities showcasing organic and agroecological farming methods.

Mudrenicagi Organic Learning Farm Advisor Karen Mills said the gathering allowed people working on similar environmental challenges in different Pacific countries to share knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences.

She said while some participants focused on forests, others worked in agriculture and ocean conservation, but all shared the common goal of addressing climate challenges across the region.

The workshop also explored opportunities to improve market access and livelihoods through nature-based solutions, including ways to increase household incomes and strengthen local economies.

Yomalinda Pablo Alfons, representing the Conservation Society of the Federated States of Micronesia, said the exchange had provided valuable exposure to environmental challenges and initiatives in other Pacific countries.

She said she was particularly impressed by the opportunity to learn about the different situations faced by communities across the region compared to those back home.

Mr Fatiaki stressed that the real value of the workshop would depend on how participants applied the knowledge gained once they returned to their respective communities.

He encouraged participants to adapt the lessons to their local circumstances and maintain partnerships to advance nature-based solutions and strengthen climate resilience.

The exchange forms part of the Pacific Organic Learning Farms Network project under the Kiwa Initiative, managed by the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) at SPC.

The Kiwa Initiative is supported by the European Union, Agence Française de Développement, Global Affairs Canada, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.