Nuku‘alofa, Tonga – In a significant milestone for climate resilience and national planning, the Kingdom of Tonga is poised to become one of the few Pacific Island Countries with comprehensive national LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) coverage by 2026. This crucial advancement will be realized through the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project (TCRP), which receives funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Government of Tonga.
The establishment of a complete national LiDAR baseline will support a variety of essential functions including coastal risk modeling, sea-level rise projections, disaster preparedness, infrastructure planning, and long-term climate adaptation. A coastal mapping survey is set to take place over Tongatapu and the Ha’apai island group from March 21 to April 18, 2026, employing a specialized survey aircraft to collect highly accurate three-dimensional elevation data.
The collected data will bolster Tonga’s capacity to evaluate climate risks, anticipate future sea-level rise scenarios, improve disaster preparedness systems, and facilitate the planning of coastal infrastructure. This initiative will serve as a foundation for the development of scenario-based coastal risk maps and other evidence-based adaptation strategies.
To further strengthen Tonga’s capability to manage and interpret coastal and climate risk data, UNDP is partnering with the Pacific Community (SPC) under Output 2 of TCRP. This collaboration aims not only to acquire and analyze vital data but also to reinforce national ownership of climate information systems and enhance technical expertise within government institutions.
Preparatory meetings were organized prior to the survey, led by SPC’s Pacific Geospatial & Surveying Coordinator, Mr. Andrick Lal, and featured technical experts from Fugro, including Project Manager Mr. Hideharu Uno and Hydrographic Surveyor Mr. Michael Brown. These meetings highlighted the commitment from key ministries, such as the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications, the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Fugro, a global leader in geo-data services, will carry out the LiDAR survey, working closely with the Mapping and Surveying Division to ensure effective knowledge transfer and collaboration. This project builds upon previous LiDAR surveys conducted in Tonga, which included efforts funded by the Australian Government and the World Bank in 2012 and 2021, respectively. The upcoming survey will integrate these datasets to offer a unified national LiDAR coverage.
The completion of national LiDAR coverage will significantly enhance Tonga’s climate resilience by providing detailed data essential for flood and coastal inundation modeling, safer infrastructure design, and sound coastal zone management. By investing in solid geospatial data systems and local technical capacity, Tonga is taking robust steps toward making informed decisions that will protect communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems for future generations.
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