Nuku‘alofa, Tonga – In a major step
toward climate resilience and evidence-based national
planning, the Kingdom of Tonga is set to become one of the
very few Pacific Island Countries with comprehensive
national LiDAR coverage in 2026.
This milestone will
be delivered through the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project
(TCRP), funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and
implemented by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) in partnership with the Government of
Tonga.
With the completion of the 2026 survey, Tonga
will establish its first complete national LiDAR baseline to
support coastal risk modelling, sea-level rise projections,
disaster preparedness, infrastructure planning and long-term
climate adaptation.
As part of this effort, a coastal
mapping survey will be conducted over Tongatapu and
Ha’apai island group from 21 March to 18 April 2026 using
a specialized survey aircraft. The survey will utilise LiDAR
(Light Detection and Ranging) — an advanced remote sensing
technology that produces highly accurate three-dimensional
elevation data of land and nearshore
environments.
The data collected will
significantly enhance Tonga’s ability to assess climate
risks, model future sea-level rise scenarios, strengthen
disaster preparedness systems and inform long-term coastal
infrastructure planning.
Strengthening
National Capacity Under TCRP
Under Output 2
of the project, UNDP is working in partnership with the
Pacific Community (SPC) to strengthen Tonga’s capacity to
collect, manage, analyse, interpret, and apply coastal and
climate risk data.
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The LiDAR survey will support
the development of scenario-based coastal risk maps and
knowledge products that enable evidence-based adaptation
planning. Beyond data acquisition, the initiative reinforces
national ownership of climate information systems and builds
long-term technical capacity within government
institutions.
Preparatory coordination meetings were
convened ahead of the survey. The meetings were led by
SPC’s Pacific Geospatial & Surveying (PGS)
Coordinator, Mr Andrick Lal and included technical
specialists from Fugro, Mr Hideharu Uno, Project Manager and
Mr Michael Brown, Hydrographic Surveyor and with support
from the UNDP Tonga team – Ms Afuafu Kautoke, National
Project Manager and Mr Ashley Fua, Area Manager.
Key
implementing ministries participating in the coordination
included:
• Ministry of
Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management,
Environment, Climate Change and Communications
(MEIDECC)
• Ministry of Lands,
Survey, Planning and Natural Resources
(MLSPNR)
• Ministry of
Infrastructure (MOI)
The 2026 LiDAR survey will be
conducted by Fugro, an international geo-data specialist
agency with extensive expertise in aerial and maritime
mapping. During implementation, SPC and Fugro technical
teams will work closely alongside the Mapping and Surveying
Division within MLSNPR to ensure knowledge transfer and
technical collaboration.
Building on
Tonga’s LiDAR Legacy
Tonga has previously
undertaken LiDAR surveys through various development
initiatives. The 2026 survey will integrate existing
datasets to establish Tonga’s first complete unified
national LiDAR
coverage:
• 2012 Survey:
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under the Pacific-Australia Climate
Change Science and Adaptation Program (PACCSAP), covering
Tongatapu, Lifuka and
Foa.
• 2021 Survey: Funded by
the World Bank under the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP),
covering ‘Eua, Vava‘u, Tafahi and
Niuatoputapu.
• 2026
Survey: Funded by the Green Climate Fund through the Tonga
Coastal Resilience Project, covering Tongatapu and the
Ha‘apai Islands to complete national coverage.
The
completion of national LiDAR coverage represents a
significant advancement in strengthening Tonga’s climate
resilience. High resolution evaluation data will enable more
precise flood and coastal inundation modelling, safer
infrastructure design, strengthened coastal zone management,
and informed long-term adaptation to sea-level rise and
extreme weather events.
By investing in robust
geospatial data systems and national technical capacity,
Tonga is strengthening the foundations for climate-informed
decision-making that will protect communities,
infrastructure and ecosystems for generations to
come.
