Rome/Dushanbe, Tajikistan - The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved a total of $52.5 million for a cross-cutting project to be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Government of Fiji and partners, to strengthen climate adaptation and resilience across landscapes and communities in Fiji while supporting low-carbon development pathways.
The financing is divided into a $29.3 million GCF grant and $23.2 million in co-financing. The project will help restore degraded landscapes, protect coastal ecosystems and improve forest and agricultural land management. Key partners include Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited, Fiji Pine Limited, Fiji Development Bank and local communities.
The seven-year Forest Landscape Restoration for Climate Benefits and Resilience (Fiji FLR) project will reach 196,877 beneficiaries (half of whom are women), while a further 149,715 people will benefit indirectly. The project will reduce the climate vulnerability of rural communities that depend on farming, livestock production, forestry or fisheries for their livelihoods.
Fiji FLR was approved during the 45th meeting of the GCF Board in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
"This landmark investment from the GCF will help Fiji build a more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood system, safeguard food security and ensure a better future for its people. This funding marks a milestone for climate action in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and responds directly to the urgent needs of vulnerable rural communities to improve their livelihoods," stated FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
Michael Sivendra, Permanent Secretary, Environment and Climate Change, Government of the Republic of Fiji, said: "Fiji welcomes this partnership with the Green Climate Fund and FAO, which will support our national efforts to restore forest landscapes, enhance community resilience and underscore the urgent need for scaled-up, accessible climate finance to match the realities we face."
An integrated approach to climate finance and resilience
Fiji is an island nation of more than 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, where forests, agricultural lands, rivers and coastal ecosystems form an interconnected ridge-to-reef system. Tropical forests cover 60 percent of the land and provide critical habitat for unique biodiversity, while preventing soil erosion and protecting vital coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves from harmful run-off.
However, environmental degradation and climate change are posing a growing threat to people's livelihoods and resources.
Unsustainable land use, logging and mangrove clearing have led to soil erosion, forest degradation and flooding. At the same time, stronger cyclones, heavier rainfall, rising sea levels, longer dry spells and more frequent wildfires are intensifying these pressures.
To address these interconnected challenges, FAO, alongside the Government of Fiji and partners, will implement a ridge-to-reef approach that links forest restoration upstream with the protection of coastal ecosystems downstream. The approach will safeguard biodiversity, reduce environmental degradation and reinforce the natural systems that sustain livelihoods, food production and economic development.
More than 80,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land are set to be restored and placed under improved management, while more than 90,000 hectares of coastal ecosystems will be protected. These actions will help mitigate climate change by removing 6 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from the atmosphere.
Community-led restoration activities include planting mixed forests on more than 5,700 hectares, restoring 5,000 hectares of riverbanks and waterways and supporting natural regeneration across 5,000 hectares of degraded forest. An additional 12,000 hectares of forest will be protected through agreements with customary landowners.
To strengthen food security, agroforestry systems will integrate fruit and nut trees. These systems will improve soil health, enhance moisture retention, diversify production and help to maintain yields during dry periods while creating new income opportunities for households.
The project will ensure long-term benefits by supporting communities and companies to meet certification standards and access higher-value markets for timber and non-timber forest products. National financial institutions, including the Fiji Development Bank (a GCF Direct Access Entity), will also partner with the project to strengthen sustainable financing for forestry and agroforestry investments to support sustainable land-use practices.
Overall, the Fiji FLR project supports Fiji's national climate strategies by increasing carbon removals, strengthening adaptation and reducing climate risks in vulnerable areas, while also aligning with the Green Climate Fund's focus on resilience and country ownership.
Beyond Fiji, the project offers a replicable model for other Small Island Developing States by combining policy reform, community-based planning and sustainable finance, which can be adapted to address shared challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and climate risk.
Fiji FLR is part of FAO's $2 billion portfolio of GCF projects, serving more than 60 million people across 99 countries.
