The Local2030 Islands Network convened people from around the world in Hawai’i for the 2024 Community of Practice Gathering. The Ocean Foundation (TOF) is proud to serve as the steward of the Regenerative Tourism Catalyst Grant Program in partnership with NOAA, the U.S. Department of State and the Local2030 Islands Network.

These Communities of Practice Gatherings typically occur quarterly in virtual meetings and through an online virtual community platform. Building on the momentum of the Local2030 in-person gathering in Hawai’i in April 2023, over 170 people from more than 40 islands worldwide gathered together in 2024! The event focused on peer-to-peer exchange, inspiration, and learning. Sessions included topics like data for climate resilience and sustainable and regenerative tourism.  

It was an inspiring experience for everyone to learn from island partners and TOF was honored to participate in this year’s event.

TOF Chief Development Officer, Jason Donofrio, with Local2030 Islands Network Steering Committee. Groups included in this photo are: The Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), Hawaii Green Growth, The U.S. Department of State, NOAA, and Local2030 Islands Network. Photo credit: Jason Donofrio

,

Read More

The March to End the Plastic Era, led by the Second Line band in Ottawa, Canada in April 2024.
,

The Ocean Foundation Joins Civil Society Groups Worldwide in Demanding Greater Transparency and Participation in Upcoming Plastics Treaty Talks

133 civil society organizations worldwide, including The Ocean Foundation, called on the leadership of the INC working on a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, to provide greater transparency …

Sea bass look for food among the schools of smaller fish in this healthy coral reef.

Biden-Harris Administration invests $16.7 million for marine technology innovation through the Inflation Reduction Act

The Department of Commerce and NOAA recently announced $16.7 million in funding across 12 awards to support the development of innovative new technologies and public-private partnerships focused on sustainability, equity, …

A Mylar balloon on the shoreline of Santa Rosa Island off the coast of California. Credit: Courtesy of NOAA Marine Debris Program

Please Don’t Let Them Go

It seems at once hopeful and dramatic: Dozens, even hundreds of brightly colored balloons released by the celebrants and their guests, drifting off into the sky. But it is not …