The Nature Conservancy Awarded $6.5M Bezos Earth Fund Grant to Advance Ocean Protection Across Micronesia

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been awarded a $6.5 million Early Movers Grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to work with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), the Republic of Palau (ROP), the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the US Territory of Guam to strengthen marine conservation efforts across Micronesia. 

This work contributes to the vision of the Micronesia Challenge and supports “Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity,” a regionwide strategy endorsed by Pacific leaders to sustainably manage 100% of their ocean and protect sites of ecological and cultural importance.

The new grant fills critical funding gaps to protect 72 million hectares of ocean—an area the size of Texas—advancing a bold regional vision that’s been two decades in the making. Micronesia is home to more than 480 species of coral, over 1,300 species of reef fish and up to 30% of the world’s tuna supply. Protecting these marine resources brings benefits to both the people of Micronesia and the entire globe.

Since 2006, the Micronesia Challenge has united these island nations in a collaborative effort to protect their shared ocean heritage. With a focus on community leadership, sustainable development, and regional cooperation, the Micronesia Challenge has become a global model for large-scale, locally driven conservation.

TNC has partnered with the nations of Micronesia since 1990 to promote terrestrial and marine conservation across the region, including supporting and advancing the Micronesia Challenge. This grant will enable TNC to better support the nations both locally and regionally.   

The project will operate on two complementary tracks. Nationally, it will empower each jurisdiction to strengthen enforcement, improve management of existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and support the creation of new community-led conservation sites. It will also invest in sustainable economic opportunities that provide alternatives to fishing and incentivize local stewardship. Regionally, the grant will enhance coordination among the five jurisdictions, modernize data systems, and explore potential long-term funding models that will ensure conservation efforts are sustained for decades to come.

This grant is part of a larger $37.5 million initiative announced by the Bezos Earth Fund to accelerate early implementation of marine protection across 12 Pacific Island countries and territories. The Earth Fund has pledged $100 million to support Pacific-led conservation, ocean governance, and durable finance solutions.

By 2029, the grant is expected to deliver measurable outcomes, including helping to achieve 100% electronic monitoring of industrial longline fleets in Palau, FSM, and RMI; improving management effectiveness of priority MPAs; and enabling the establishment of a sustainable finance mechanism. These efforts will ensure that the Micronesia Challenge continues to serve as a global model for community-driven, regionally coordinated ocean conservation—backed by the data, capacity, and funding needed to protect one of the world’s most biodiverse marine regions.