Some of the most visionary ocean conservation work in the United States is happening in the territories—American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These islands steward vast ocean areas with extraordinary biodiversity, deep cultural relationships to the sea, and strong community‑led conservation traditions. Yet their achievements are often overlooked or constrained by colonial legacies, structural inequities, limited political representation, and chronic under‑resourcing.

This session highlights why meaningful conservation must begin with the people who live in these places. Territorial communities face unique challenges, from climate impacts and economic pressures to external decision‑making that can sideline local priorities.

Panelists will examine what emerging conservation practitioners—students, early‑career professionals, NGO staff, and scientists—can learn from the territories and how to work in true partnership with local communities. The discussion will emphasize best practices for community‑driven conservation, including respectful engagement, co‑production of knowledge, equitable funding, and the integration of Indigenous and local expertise into decision‑making.