Nukuʻalofa, Tonga, 12 May 2026 –The Government of Tonga, in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), convened a high-level stakeholder consultation to advance Tonga’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Proposal for the agriculture and forestry sector. 

The consultation brought together key stakeholders to strengthen national capacity and align priorities for climate-resilient development, with a strong focus on advancing Tonga’s National Forest Inventory (NFI). 

Opening remarks were delivered by Mrs. Luʻisa Tuʻiafitu Malolo, Director of Climate Change at MEIDECC, who highlighted the importance of coordinated national action to meet Tonga’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Mr. Mikaele Saipa’ia, Deputy Director/Head of Extension (MAFF), emphasized the critical role of agriculture and forestry in ensuring food security, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience. 

Handover of Forestry Equipment

A key highlight of the event was the handover of forestry equipment from GGGI to MAFF. The equipment will support field surveys, data collection, and monitoring activities essential for the implementation of Tonga’s National Forest Inventory. The handover, led by GGGI Climate Finance Advisor Mr. Lano Fonua, reinforces ongoing support to strengthen technical capacity within the forestry sector.  

The National Forest Inventory is a multi-partner, multi-phased initiative designed to provide robust data to inform Tonga’s climate policies and conservation strategies. The project uses high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced analysis, including 50cm resolution imagery and artificial intelligence, to generate a detailed inventory of forest resources. A pilot tree census completed in 2024 identified over 2.2 million individual trees on Tongatapu alone, highlighting the scale and importance of the initiative. FAO will now utilise this work to deliver a forest inventory that addresses Tonga’s specific and unique forest definition, which includes both traditional forest areas and individual trees outside forest patches, requiring highly detailed mapping and data systems to ensure accurate reporting and planning.  

Technical sessions led by FAO, GGGI, and MAFF covered the GCF Readiness Programme, progress on the National Forest Inventory, and a draft readiness concept note. Discussions focused on priority areas including crops, livestock, forestry, soil management, biodiversity, land use, and water resources.  

The outcomes of the consultation will inform the finalization of Tonga’s GCF Readiness Proposal, which aims to build MAFF’s capacity to effectively plan, implement, and monitor climate-resilient agriculture and forestry initiatives. 

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org 

GGGI Tonga

Lano Fonua, Senior Program Officer and Climate Finance Advisor| Lano.fonua@gggi.org

GGGI Pacific

Kelly Vacala, Regional Communications & Knowledge Sharing Lead| Kelly.Vacala@gggi.org