🌿 Indigenous-Led Conservation

Rooting Conservation
in Indigenous Knowledge

Guardian Chain Network is an indigenous-led NGO. We combine traditional knowledge with science to tackle climate change, protect ecosystems, and build resilient communities for generations to come.

3+
Active Projects
2K+
Lives Impacted
5+
Communities
Guardian Chain Network Community
🌱 Indigenous-Led Conservation

Rooted in Indigenous Knowledge, Guided by Science

Guardian Chain Network is an indigenous-led conservation NGO that integrates traditional knowledge with science to tackle climate change, promote sustainable livelihoods, and address unsustainable human practices that threaten our planet.

Indigenous communities have been stewards of the land and sea for thousands of years. That knowledge, passed down through generations, is a powerful tool alongside scientific research. Together, they give us a fuller, truer picture of how to protect and restore the natural world.

From the land to the sea, we work alongside communities to build solutions that are culturally grounded, traditionally and scientifically informed, and built to last. Real change starts with the people who call these places home.

🌿 Indigenous Knowledge

Thousands of years of wisdom about land and sea, honoured and integrated.

🔬 Evidence-Based

Two ways of knowing, one shared goal: traditional knowledge and science, side by side

🤝 Community First

Indigenous communities don't just participate. They lead.

🌏 Climate Action

Addressing climate change and unsustainable human practices at the root

Our Focus Areas

We work across three interconnected pillars. Nature, people, and knowledge are all part of the same chain.

Children Conservation Work
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Indigenous-Focused Conservation

We protect ecosystems through the lens of indigenous stewardship, honouring the deep relationships between communities and their land, forests and oceans that have sustained life for generations.

Marine & Ocean Conservation Forest Conservation Indigenous Stewardship Ecosystem Restoration
Education Programs
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Education

Informed communities are empowered communities. We run educational programs that build climate literacy and inspire a new generation of environmental guardians.

Climate Education Environmental Awareness Youth Programs Workshops & Training
Community Mangrove Planting
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Community & Sustainable Development

We work with communities to build resilience, address basic needs, and promote sustainable livelihoods, addressing the SDGs.

Water Scarcity Food Security Sustainable Livelihoods Climate Resilience

Projects in Action

From clean water to restored mangrove coastlines, here is how we are making it happen on the ground.

Tsoi Water Project
💧 Water & Sanitation

Since 2023  |  Ongoing

Tsoi Water Project

The Tsoi Water Project brings clean, safe water to communities through rainwater collection systems and water tanks built with local labour and materials. Started in 2023, this community-led initiative tackles water scarcity head-on. Communities take ownership of their own water security, guided by indigenous ingenuity and traditional resource management.

Water Security Community-Led Climate Resilience
Community building the Tsoi water tank
2023–
Ongoing & Growing
Mangrove Rehabilitation
🌿 Mangrove & Coral Rehabilitation

Since 2026  |  Ongoing

Waste to Walls

Mangrove and Coral Rehabilitation Project

Waste to Walls is a mangrove and coral rehabilitation project working to protect the coastline of Tsoi Island from coastal erosion. Rooted in indigenous knowledge and guided by science, the project brings together community members to restore coastal ecosystems using methods passed down through generations, strengthened by modern restoration practice. This is a pilot project currently running at Community 1, Site 1, with the vision of expanding across the island's coastline.

Mangrove Rehabilitation Coral Rehabilitation Youth-Led Coastal Protection
Youth planting mangrove seedlings
2026–
Ongoing & Growing
Stories
Our Stories

Voices from the Field

Real stories from our communities, our land, and our sea. Told by the people who live it.

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Stories Coming Soon

We are gathering stories from our communities, our elders, and our field teams. Check back soon to read about our work from the people living it every day.

Sustainable Development Goals We Address

Our work is grounded in indigenous knowledge and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to a just and sustainable future for all.

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Quality Education

We deliver climate education programs in indigenous communities, building environmental literacy and empowering the next generation of conservation leaders.

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Clean Water & Sanitation

Through the Tsoi Water Project, we bring clean, safe water to remote communities using rainwater collection systems built with local labour, materials, and indigenous ingenuity.

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Climate Action

Every project we run is a direct response to climate change. We combine traditional ecological knowledge with science to build community resilience and protect vulnerable ecosystems.

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Life Below Water

Our Waste to Walls project rehabilitates mangroves and coral ecosystems along the Tsoi Island coastline, protecting marine biodiversity using methods rooted in generations of indigenous practice.

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Life on Land

We work to protect and restore forest ecosystems through conservation programs that honour indigenous stewardship and the deep relationships communities hold with their land.

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Partnerships for the Goals

We build bridges between indigenous communities, scientists, governments, and global partners to create lasting, collaborative solutions that no single group can achieve alone.

Get Involved

There are many ways to become a Guardian. Every action, big or small, helps protect the lands and seas we all depend on.

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Volunteer

Join our field teams, community programs, or remote support network. Your time and skills make a real difference where it matters most.

Volunteer With Us
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Donate

Your contribution funds conservation projects, education programs, and community initiatives that protect both people and planet.

Make a Donation
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Partner

We collaborate with businesses, governments, and other NGOs to grow our impact. Reach out and let us explore what we can do together.

Become a Partner
The People Behind the Mission

Meet Our Team

Grounded in community. Guided by science. Driven by a deep love for the lands and seas we call home.

Rebecca Ruga Gima

Rebecca Ruga Gima

Founder

Biologist and conservationist dedicated to weaving indigenous knowledge with scientific practice to protect the ecosystems of Papua New Guinea.

Donnya Gordon

Donnya Gordon

Lead Researcher

Researcher and marine biologist bringing deep scientific expertise to the study and protection of ocean ecosystems across the Pacific.

Charles Kisokau

Charles Kisokau

Lead Project Officer

Driving community-based conservation projects on the ground, connecting indigenous communities with sustainable development opportunities.

Projects Team

Our community-based project team. The guardians on the ground.

Projects Team - Community Members

Our Community Project Team

Guardians on the Ground

Our dedicated community team: planting mangroves, building water solutions, and keeping the chain strong. More team profiles coming soon.

Get in Touch

Whether you want to volunteer, donate, partner, or simply learn more, we would love to hear from you. Every conversation is a new link in the chain.

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Email theguardianchainnetwork@gmail.com
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Website www.guardianchainnetwork.org
📍
Base Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea

Send Us a Message