By Katalina Siasau
Mangrove restoration efforts in Tonga are playing a vital role in protecting livelihoods and supporting vulnerable coastal communities. A major planting initiative is now underway, aiming to establish 200,000 mangroves across Tongatapu and Vava'u.
The Coastal Green Nursery, a private nursery dedicated to propagating mangrove species, is leading the work with support from the Ridge to Reef (R2R) Community Grants Initiative, funded by UNDP with USD 570,000. The funding helps provide local jobs, awareness programmes, and essential equipment for planting and monitoring. The initiative reaches 20 schools and 10 communities across Tongatapu and Vava’u, focusing on vulnerable areas such as Fanga‘uta and Vaipua.
The goal is to plant 10 hectares of mangroves—about the size of 10 rugby fields—while actively involving schoolchildren and youth.
On Friday, students from GMS Popua joined the effort, planting mangroves at the Popua restoration site.
In Popua alone, around 20,000 mangrove seedlings are currently being prepared for planting.
Penikoni Aleamotu‘a of Coastal Green Nursery told Matangi Tonga that education is central to the project’s long-term success.
“In the past, we would just gather communities to plant,” he said.
“Now we focus on teaching children the importance of mangroves before they go into the field. This helps them understand and supports their learning, about mangroves.”
Source of livelihood
Penikoni described mangroves as essential to coastal communities.
“Mangroves are a vital source of livelihood,” he said.
“I used to call them a ‘magical plant’ because of their many benefits. They protect us from disasters and strengthen our food security.”
He explained that healthy mangrove ecosystems support marine life, providing fish, crabs, and birds that communities depend on for both food and income. Mangroves also contribute to education and research, hold medicinal value, and play a role in traditional practices such as ngatu making.
He hopes more people will understand these benefits and recognise the importance of their involvement—especially children, youth, and women.
Mangroves also act as natural barriers against disasters such as tsunamis and storm surges, helping to protect coastal communities and infrastructure. “With increasing impacts from climate change, including droughts and tropical cyclones, restoration efforts are becoming more urgent.”
“Natural disaster destruction are fast, but recoveries need to be faster,” he stressed.
Dumping grounds
Penikoni also highlighted the need to reduce littering in coastal areas. “Mangroves are often treated as dumping grounds,” he said. “Waste like batteries and plastics can harm marine life. Crabs ingest these toxins, and they eventually end up in our food.” “Cleaner mangrove environments directly support healthier ecosystems and stronger livelihoods,” he noted.
One of the ongoing challenges in mangrove restoration has been low survival rates after planting. To address this, seedlings are now carefully monitored and tested for up to 18 months before being transplanted, helping ensure stronger growth.
Coastal Green Nursery’s mangrove seedling bank keeps young plants ready when needed and helps preserve rare species such as fa‘onelua.
Seedlings are nurtured for up to three to four years before planting.
“This approach improves survival rates compared to direct planting.”
“Some seedlings planted this year were grown as early as 2023, demonstrating the importance of long-term planning and seed banking.”
The species planted at Popua is Rhizophora stylosa, locally known as tongo lei, which thrives in high-salinity coastal environments and is valued for its resilience.
Tonga is home to around 10 different mangrove species.
Through restoration, education, and community involvement, mangroves are once again being recognised not just as plants, but as vital protectors of life, culture, and livelihoods in Tonga.
