The Conserving our sea of islands report provides the first comprehensive assessment of area-based conservation in the region. The 23 countries and territories that it covers are diverse but share a common identity and geography, as well as many other features such as extensive customary ownership. The purpose of the report is to document the status of protected and conserved areas in Oceania; review and outline progress made towards achieving national and international targets for protected and conserved areas, including for coverage, representativeness, connectivity and effectiveness; showcase the achievements and learnings from across the region to promote effective management practices; and review and highlight relevant regional protected and conserved area issues and provide guidance for strengthening their management effectiveness, governance and equity.