These Guidelines provide a practical framework for integrating Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into agriculture and forestry planning, management and investment in Tonga. Developed under the Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project, the document translates NbS principles into practical actions that can be applied by government agencies, extension officers, communities, farmers, landowners, civil society organisations and development partners.
The Guidelines respond to growing climate change impacts affecting Tonga's agriculture and forestry sectors, including cyclones, droughts, land degradation, soil erosion and declining ecosystem resilience. Building on Tonga's existing policy frameworks, traditional ecological knowledge and community-based resource management practices, the document provides practical guidance for designing and implementing Nature-based Solutions that strengthen food security, livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
The resource includes NbS design standards and criteria, project development and planning processes, financing mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and practical guidance for agroforestry, reforestation, watershed management and sustainable land-use systems. It also outlines nationally relevant indicators for measuring ecological, social and economic outcomes, helping practitioners track the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of NbS interventions.
A key feature of the Guidelines is their emphasis on integrating traditional knowledge with scientific approaches, promoting community participation, strengthening land-to-sea planning, and supporting climate-resilient farming and forestry systems. Through practical examples, case studies and implementation roadmaps, the document provides a clear pathway for scaling Nature-based Solutions across Tonga's agriculture and forestry landscapes.
The Guidelines are intended to serve as a national reference for the planning, implementation and monitoring of Nature-based Solutions, supporting the delivery of Tonga's climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and food security objectives.
