Rising seas, Resilient communities: Climate adaptation in Fiji’s vanishing villages

Rising seas have turned parts of a once-inhabited Fijian village into a knee-deep lagoon. On the shores of Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second-largest island, a wooden post juts from the saltwater – the remnant of a home now claimed by the ocean.

This abandoned settlement, Vunidogoloa, has the dubious honor of being one of the first communities in the world forced into a planned relocation because of climate change . In 2014, all 130 residents of Vunidogoloa moved about two kilometers inland to a new site they named Kenani, meaning “Promised Land” in the local language. Their story illustrates both the profound human cost of climate upheaval and the bold efforts underway to build resilience in Fiji and across the Pacific Islands.

Uprooted by a Rising Ocean

For the people of Vunidogoloa, leaving their ancestral home was a last resort. Sailosi Ramatu, a former villager, still returns to the waterlogged ruins where he was born. “This was my house,” he says matter-of-factly, pointing to the barely visible foundation of his old home . Nine years after the move, the pain of displacement remains raw.  “Because we were born here, our parents were here – leaving it behind, that’s something that really hurts us,” Sailosi reflects, clutching his heart . Relocating meant more than just rebuilding houses on higher ground; it meant severing the spiritual connection to land and sea that Fijians call vanua, the ancient bond between people, their ancestors, and their place .

Vunidogoloa is one of six Fijian villages that have already been relocated due to encroaching seas and eroding  shores .  Dozens  more  are  currently  being  assessed  for  potential  relocation  as  climate impacts accelerate . With about 20% of Fiji’s population of nearly 1 million living in low-lying coastal or riverside areas,  thousands of Fijians face the prospect of having to move to higher ground in coming years . The nation’s government has identified close to 50 communities that will likely need to relocate within the next decade , including 42 villages deemed in urgent need of relocation as of 2023 . And the threat is only growing: by 2050, Fiji estimates around  240 coastal communities – nearly one of every three villages in the country – could be displaced by rising seas if climate trends continue .

Yet planned relocation is a complex and costly process. Moving an entire village involves not just transporting people, but rebuilding livelihoods, infrastructure, and social networks from scratch. The relocation of Vunidogoloa in 2014, for example, required roughly USD $500,000 in funding to move 26 families (~140 people) and construct new homes two kilometers inland . “Relocating a village is not a simple matter of just finding and forking out hundreds of thousands of dollars,” notes Fiji’s climate relocation handbook – it requires careful planning to ensure communities can survive and thrive in new sites . There are emotional costs as well: elders worry about grave sites left behind, and villagers must renegotiate land rights and rebuild a sense of place in unfamiliar terrain.

Adapting for Survival and Resilience

Recognizing these challenges, Fiji has become a leader in proactive climate adaptation. In 2019 the government established the Climate Relocation of Communities Trust Fund, billed as the world’s first national fund dedicated to financing the planned relocation of communities threatened by climate change . This innovative trust fund pools domestic and international resources to support villages that must move, helping cover the steep costs of land acquisition, housing, and infrastructure in safer areas. “Both adaptation and mitigation financing require a substantial increase,” Fiji’s President  Ratu Wiliame Katonivere urged in a 2024 United Nations address, calling on all nations to “address glaring gaps in climate finance” so that vulnerable communities are not left to fend for themselves . Fiji has also pioneered new funding avenues – issuing green bonds, piloting low-cost climate insurance for rural communities, and engaging private-sector partners – to bolster its resilience efforts .

Beyond relocating communities, Fijians are increasingly turning to nature-based solutions to defend their shores and sustain livelihoods. One powerful ally is the humble mangrove.  Mangrove forests fringe many of Fiji’s islands, and these salt-tolerant trees are proving to be literal life-savers. Building up healthy mangrove belts along the coast helps  buffer strong waves, restore eroding beaches, and reduce the impacts of sea-level rise and storm surges . In the Yasawa Islands, villagers in Vuaki noticed their shoreline had been steadily washing away. With support from conservation groups, the community planted rows of mangrove seedlings. Within a few years, the mangroves took root and the villagers observed sand beginning to accumulate again on their beach – a natural defense reasserting itself . Mangroves not only shield the land; they also trap sediment (protecting nearby coral reefs from  being  smothered ),  serve  as  nurseries  for  fish,  and  even  store  carbon,  providing  multiple benefits at once.

Mangrove forests, like this stand along Fiji’s Wainikoro River, serve as natural buffers against coastal erosion and  storms. Protecting  and  restoring  these  ecosystems  has  become  a  cornerstone  of  Fiji’s  climate adaptation  strategy.  Community-led  mangrove  planting  and  coastal  rehabilitation  projects  are underway on many islands, often led by women and youth groups armed with traditional knowledge. “Once communities replant mangroves, local people see first-hand that the roots hold the sand together, protecting their coastline,” says one Fiji conservation program, noting that locals themselves take charge of keeping the young mangroves healthy by removing debris and monitoring growth . Such grassroots stewardship helps ensure that nature’s protective barriers will endure for future generations.

Out at sea, efforts are also ongoing to safeguard Fiji’s vital coral reefs. Vibrant coral ecosystems like the Great Sea Reef (the world’s third-largest barrier reef) are not only biodiversity treasures and fishing grounds – they are also critical natural breakwaters.  Healthy coral reefs can absorb up to 97% of wave energy, buffering shorelines from storms and preventing catastrophic erosion and flooding.

To reinforce this frontline defense, Fiji has committed to expanding its network of Marine Protected Areas  and  supporting  reef  restoration.  A  United  Nations-backed  program  is  currently  helping  Fiji establish  30  new  marine  protected  areas  by  2030  and  protect  30,000  hectares  of  coral  reef ecosystems as  part  of  a  “blue  economy”  initiative .  Local  entrepreneurs  and  communities  are involved in coral farming and reef rehabilitation projects – from creating coral nurseries in damaged reef areas to improving waste management on land to keep coastal waters clear and conducive for reef growth .  These  conservation  measures  go  hand-in-hand  with  traditional  practices  (such  as seasonal bans on fishing certain areas) to give reefs a fighting chance to survive warming seas and bleaching events. The goal is to strengthen the natural resilience of Fiji’s coasts so that even as the climate changes, the islands can sustain themselves.

A Pacific Perspective on a Global Crisis

Fiji’s struggle and response are part of a larger story unfolding across the Pacific and beyond. Pacific Island nations account for just 0.02% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are among the most  threatened  by  climate  change .  The  very  geography  that  defines  these  idyllic  isles  –  low elevation (often only 1–2 meters above sea level) and close-knit coastal settlements – leaves them painfully exposed to rising seas and intensifying storms .  “I think our contribution to the effects of climate change is about a drop in the ocean,” observes  Alani Tuivucilevu of Fiji’s Women in Fisheries Network.  “It is frustrating, because all we do is face the consequences,” she says, echoing a sentiment shared by millions in vulnerable developing nations . The people of the Pacific are on the frontlines of a crisis they did little to create.

At the same time, Pacific communities are showing leadership in adaptation and resilience that holds lessons for the world. Fiji’s holistic approach – from relocating villages and securing climate finance, to restoring ecosystems and empowering locals – exemplifies the kind of  “whole-of-society” response that  international  experts  advocate.  Fiji  was  among  the  first  to  incorporate  Planned  Relocation Guidelines into national policy, ensuring that moves like Vunidogoloa’s are conducted with respect for human rights and cultural heritage . Its Climate Relocation Trust Fund is being studied by other countries as a model for how governments might pro-actively bankroll adaptation. Regionally, Fiji has partnered with neighbors through the Pacific Islands Forum to push for stronger global action – from faster cuts in emissions to dedicated funding for  Loss and Damage (the costs of climate-induced harms). “The momentum from COP27 and COP28 on the Loss and Damage Fund… must be accelerated in order to protect vulnerable communities who stand to lose the most,” President Katonivere urged at the United Nations , underscoring that climate justice is a matter of survival for island nations.

Meanwhile, across Asia and the wider developing world, similar adaptation dramas are playing out. In Bangladesh, coastal villagers elevate their homes on embankments as seas encroach. In  Indonesia, the capital is being moved to higher ground as Jakarta sinks. From the Philippines to Papua New Guinea,  mangrove  restoration  and  community-led  relocations  are  picking  up  pace.  These  efforts resonate strongly with what is happening in Fiji and the Pacific. They all point to a new reality: adapting to climate change is no longer a choice, but an imperative – one that demands urgent support and solidarity from the international community.

Hope Amid the Waves

Back in Fiji, the sun sets over the mangrove-fringed coast, and children in a relocated village laugh as they play where land meets sea. There is a recognition here that while the fight to slow climate change must continue, communities cannot wait passively for far-off solutions. They are adapting now, forging new paths in the face of adversity. The people of Vunidogoloa, for instance, did not disappear when their  old  village  went  under  water  –  they  built  Kenani,  their  “Promised  Land,”  where  they  have electricity, farms, and a future for their children . As heartbreaking as the loss of their original home was, the resilience and ingenuity shown in starting anew is a source of pride and inspiration.

In Fiji and across the Pacific Islands, climate adaptation is ultimately about saving not just land, but a way of life. It is about passing on fishing skills, language, and traditions in villages that may sit on higher ground now, but still remain connected to the ocean that has sustained them for generations. Each mangrove planted and each village safely relocated is a testament to the determination of these communities to remain on their islands and thrive. Their message is one of both warning and hope: the world must act decisively to reduce emissions and support adaptation, but even as the seas rise, the spirit of the Pacific will not be easily submerged. It is a spirit of  yalowasa – life, heart, and courage – proving that even in the face of climate upheaval, these resilient communities will continue to endure and innovate, for the sake of their children and the shared planet we all call home.

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Rising seas Resilient communities Climate adaptation in Fiji’s vanishing villages

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