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Embarcation traditionnelle Nouvelle-Calédonie

Preserving biodiversity in New Caledonia

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On mission with Conservation International

Every year, the PONANT Foundation offers company employees the chance to go on a field mission to lend a helping hand to local players. A valuable interlude, synonymous with solidarity, awareness raising and learning. In autumn 2023, Silvia and Jason flew from Australia to New Caledonia… Escales tells you all about it.

Conservation International in New Caledonia

Thomas has lived in New Caledonia for some ten years and is a marine biologist specialising in coral reef ecology and natural resource management. Cédric is responsible for the terrestrial programme. These two members of Conservation International in New Caledonia were Silvia and Jason’s committed and passionate hosts throughout their fortnight on Kanak soil.

Protecting and developing

Improving the lives of men and women by protecting the oceans, forests and all other living ecosystems is the mission of the NGO Conservation International. Present in New Caledonia since 1996, the NGO works closely with communities, governments and numerous local partners to improve the management of the marine and terrestrial resources of this archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Created in 2018, the PONANT Foundation lost no time in joining forces with the NGO to work on coastal restoration in New Caledonia.

Around Nouméa: planting and restoring

After a brief immersion in the heart of New Caledonia’s capital – a stroll along Lemon Bay, a climb to the lookout point in Ouen-Toro nature park and an excursion to Signal Island – Silvia and Jason soon got down to work. The programme promises to be intense, with visits to mangrove and fire-fighting vegetation plantations, awareness-raising days for local communities and forest restoration work to reduce soil erosion.

SOS Mangrove on Plage Mille

On the Plage Mille site, north of Nouméa, Silvia and Jason meet Monik, founder of the SOS Mangrove association. That day, several children joined her to help plant some mangrove trees for the purpose of slowing down coastal erosion and restoring the ecosystem. “A 75-year-old woman with incredible energy”, enthuses Jason, “an example of commitment, courage and resilience!”

Trees to combat fires

In the La Coulée valley, the Red Ground association is running a project to reduce the risk of fire and restore the forests. The work involves removing the flammable Eagle Fern and replacing it with Bourao, the local name for Hibiscus tiliaceus, which is better able to act as a natural “barrier” in the event of fire breaking out.

Awareness-raising and solidarity

Further north in the small town of La Foa, again working with local clan chiefs, the Water Council is coordinating the planting of 450 trees to stem soil erosion and thus restore a stream bed. A class of schoolchildren was also invited to take part in the operation. This is an excellent way of raising awareness of environmental issues among youngsters.

Operation cleanup

Since it was set up in 2012, the “Caledoclean” association has collected almost 1,000 tonnes of waste in New Caledonia, around 70% of which has been recycled. This morning, it’s off to Bailly islet for a huge cleanup operation with a view to planting endemic species and creating a picnic area. “It was quite a team effort in a hot and humid climate,” Silvia remembers.

“You get a sense of their profound commitment to the environment. It should give us food for thought about our way of life and how we’ve moved so far away from the Kanak people’s approach.”

Jason

Further north, on the road to sustainability

After a tropical break on the Isle of Pines, Silvia and Jason embark on a road trip to the north of Grande Terre, to more remote and isolated areas. This was their chance to discover a fantastic but fragile natural environment, taking in Turtle Bay, dry forest and seabed observation.

Turtle monitoring

On Roche Percée beach, one of the most important nesting sites in New Caledonia, Silvia and Jason discover the work being done to monitor the turtles and the reforestation needed to preserve their habitat.

New Caledonia's last remaining dry forest

“We then walked along one of the trails on the Deva estate, home to the largest and last remaining dry forest in New Caledonia,” explains Jason. It is one of the oldest ecosystems in the Melanesian archipelago, and one of the most threatened. The area is the focus of an extensive protection programmerun by Caledoclean.

On the road to preservation

Pöpwadene, “which means ‘the road’”, explains Jason, “like the road we need to travel to preserve the environment”. And it is the name of the association responsible for the mangroves in Poindimié region, where their protection is vital. “We were humbled by the work these volunteers have done to secure the coastline, and to educate and involve the community.”

Understanding for better preservation

On the programme for this final day: a conference on the environment, a meeting with the Hô-üt association, which works to preserve Touho’s reefs and lagoons, and a visit to the mangrove educational trails. The aim is to educate people and make them aware of the importance of this ecosystem in combating rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

It’s time to say goodbye… From the heights of the Amédée lighthouse, their last excursion before leaving New Caledonia, Silvia and Jason reflect on the last two weeks. They leave with memories of a warm-hearted people and, above all, with the profound feeling that they have been changed by all the experiences they have shared and all the people they have met.

“It’s amazing to see how the Kanaks work alongside the Caldoches, the Caledonians of European origin, and how their combined knowledge works wonders. I’m sure it will be a source of inspiration for Australia and our First Nations.”

Jason