Category: Timor-Leste

Small-scale fishers should be in the driving seat for blue carbon projects in the future. Here’s why.

Jemima Gomes joined Blue Ventures in 2016 as the Diving Assistant during Blue Ventures Expedition programme in Timor-Leste. Jemima recently participated in a Seagrass Ecosystem Services regional workshop in Indonesia. Here, she shares her personal experience of the Blue Carbon...

/ Oct 3, 2023
Women pilot savings and loan scheme in Timor-Leste to introduce alternative livelihoods in communities

Women pilot savings and loan scheme in Timor-Leste to introduce alternative livelihoods in communities

Natercia Verdial joined Blue Ventures in March 2022 as a Fisheries and Livelihoods Senior Manager in Timor-Leste. Natercia uses her expertise to support women to identify and introduce alternative livelihoods in their communities. Here she talks about her recent work...

/ Aug 23, 2023

Participatory Video Inspires Community-Led Seagrass Conservation in Timor-Leste

Despite boasting some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, small-scale fishers in Timor-Leste are increasingly concerned about declining daily catches. Participatory video is a powerful community engagement and communications tool that can help uncover hidden challenges and...

/ May 15, 2023

Putting communities at the heart of coral reef monitoring in Timor-Leste

Our Conservation Officer in Timor-Leste, Armindo Marques, talks about his journey with BV and training a team of Timorese reef monitoring volunteers.

/ Jan 16, 2023

Sharing nature-based customary practices to drive climate change adaptation across the Pacific

BV's Country Director in Timor-Leste, Birgit Hermann, on her recent trip to Fiji with conservation leaders from the region to launch new projects to strengthen the resilience of Pacific islands to climate change by using nature-based solutions. 

/ Oct 11, 2022

Safety at sea: Community training inspires change in Timor-Leste

Antonio really showed me the importance of providing fishers with the skills to keep themselves and other community members safe, and how this has inspired wider engagement and conservation action in his community.

/ Jun 8, 2022

Five years in Timor-Leste

Birgit Hermann (country director) and Oldegar 'Ollie' Massinga (operations manager) who head up the Blue Ventures team in Timor-Leste, reflect on five years of working with communities to drive locally led marine conservation in the country

/ Jul 14, 2021

Mapping the future: communities come together to discuss locally managed marine areas in Timor-Leste

In February, nine coastal communities from across Timor-Leste came together in Beto-Tasi for the biggest learning exchange ever organised by Blue Ventures in the country.

/ Jun 30, 2021

Challenging gender barriers: an interview with Timor-Leste’s first female Divemaster

This International Women’s Day we are celebrating an extraordinary woman. Mima’s story is one of passion, courage and perseverance.

/ Mar 8, 2021

From global to local, and back again

Birgit Hermann, Country Manager for Blue Ventures in Timor-Leste, shares her experiences of being a Rotary Peace Fellow amongst global peers, and what it means for community conservation impact

/ Mar 4, 2021

From small-scale fishers to ecotourism entrepreneurs

In Timor-Leste, ecotourism is a growing trade and is enabling coastal communities to diversify their livelihoods. In the community of Beto Tasi new families are now opening the doors of their homestay businesses.

/ Jan 22, 2021

Small but mighty: team Timor-Leste unites to take on COVID-19

In his new role as acting country manager in Timor-Leste, Oldegar Massinga explains why he’s not worried about the challenges that lie ahead

/ Aug 20, 2020

Inspiring the next generation: my journey from Admin Assistant to Conservation Officer at Blue Ventures

Dedy, Blue Ventures' Conservation Officer in Timor-Leste writes a letter to Timorese youth about his conservation journey.

/ Jul 9, 2020

Why I keep coming back to BV

Roger Vaughan has been volunteering with us for over a decade, and says a Blue Ventures expedition is an adventure like no other

/ Oct 23, 2019