From Fiji to Frankfurt: Conservation Leader Neelam Bhan secures €50,000 prize for coral reef conservation. 

Fijian conservationist Neelam Bhan has won €50,000 at the prestigious Frankfurt Spring School, emerging as a top student amongst candidates from 20 countries. 

Neelam developed an innovative project proposal for community-led, eco-friendly near-shore anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to help conserve coral reefs. Her work with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) focuses on the Vatu-i-Ra Seascape in central Fiji - a globally significant marine biodiversity hotspot.  Neelam is also the coordinator of the GEF 7-funded Coral Reef Rescue Project (CRR) at the Wildlife Conservation Society - Fiji, a project focused on safeguarding climate-resilient coral reefs in six countries: Fiji, Indonesia, Madagascar, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Tanzania.   

Fiji’s iconic coral reef system spans approximately 4,550 km², surrounding over 330 islands and home to more than 2,000 species of fish. For many people in Fiji, the ocean is central to daily life - providing food, income, and cultural identity. However, increasing fishing pressure in coastal areas is putting strain on coral reefs and the species that depend on them.   

Frankfurt Spring School for Conservation Project Management

The Frankfurt Spring School for Conservation Project Management, held at Goethe University Frankfurt annually, brings together young conservation leaders from around the world. The goal of this month-long Spring School is to bring bright minds together with a vision for protecting nature and turning innovative ideas into action. The programme is run by a partnership of nine leading organisations in conservation, science, research, and management, with KfW Stiftung awarding six scholarships annually.    

Neelam highlighted the value of this global experience “I am grateful for the opportunity awarded by KfW Stiftung to attend the Frankfurt Spring School, organised by Frankfurt Zoological Society. The four weeks were such a valuable experience. I shared my ideas, learned from the students from 20 countries, and received guidance from conservation experts.”  

During the 2026 Spring School, 32 students worked towards developing innovative conservation project proposals. The six KfW Stiftung scholars presented their proposals during the programme, then remained in Frankfurt for an additional two weeks to refine their ideas using the knowledge gained from the Spring School.  

Fiji Conservation Project awarded €50,000

At the end of the programme, following a competitive process, three of the participants were awarded funding for their project proposals. The 2026 winners included the GEF 7 CRR Coordinator Neelam Bhan (Fiji), Manfredo Turcios (Honduras), and Fredrick Paul Mhalafu (Tanzania). Each prize winner was awarded €50,000 from KfW Stiftung to implement their projects in their home countries.  

Neelam’s project focuses on introducing community-led eco-friendly nearshore anchored FADs. These floating, anchored structures attract fish from the open ocean, such as tuna and mahi-mahi. By making these target species easier to catch, fishers can spend less time fishing on coral reefs, helping the fragile reef ecosystems recover.  

This project also strengthens community governance and supports the development of value-added fish products, with a strong focus on empowering women and creating more sustainable income opportunities. By linking conservation with livelihoods, her work contributes to healthier reefs and more resilient communities aligning with the global objectives of the GEF7 CRR project. 

Importance of local community engagement for Coral Reef Conservation

Jennifer Dunn, GEF 7 CRR Project Manager, reflects on the importance of in-country community engagement for successful conservation of coral reefs, “The GEF 7 CRR team is fortunate to have a passionate conservationist like Neelam working closely with communities in Fiji. Her inclusive approach in the community, listening, learning and reflecting on the needs of all stakeholders, is creating opportunities for novel interventions such as this award-winning Fish Aggregating Devices Project.”  

Neelam added, “The Frankfurt Spring School helped me strengthen my project and think about how to make it more impactful. Winning the grant has been especially meaningful because it allowed me to bring my project to life back home in Fiji, supporting communities we care about and working towards conservation of nature.”  

The Frankfurt Spring School described the passion and deep connection Neelam has for her work, “Neelam’s deep connection to the ocean is evident in her work - she finds a sense of peace and inspiration in the sea and is especially passionate about working closely with communities to create lasting solutions.”  

Watch this short interview with Neelam to learn more about her work  

Paul van Nimwegen, Fiji Country Director at Wildlife Conservation Society, highlighted the importance of Neelam's work and the value of her conservation leadership in Fiji “We’re incredibly proud of Neelam. The Frankfurt Spring School scholarship is a strong acknowledgement of her hard work and commitment to the Coral Reef Rescue Project.  Neelam is an emerging conservation leader in Fiji, with a strong passion for coral reef conservation and a clear focus on practical solutions that deliver real impact for conservation and communities. It has been a pleasure to see her develop over the past few years, and this recognition is very well deserved.”  

Neelam’s success highlights the growing importance of locally led, community-driven solutions in addressing global environmental challenges.  

About the project

The Coral Reef Rescue Project is a US$7m initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility to build capacity and solutions that ensure the long-term survival of climate refuge coral reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. The project is implemented by the World Wildlife Fund and executed by The University of Queensland in partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society (Fiji, Madagascar, Solomon Islands), Yayasan Reef Check Indonesia, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Philippines and Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, Tanzania.

Free Online Resources for Coral Reef Conservation

Complementing the work in each country, the GEF 7 CRR project has released free online courses on coral reefs. These include Coral Reefs: Introduction to Challenges and Solutions, Coral Reefs: Sustainable Blue Economy, Coral Reefs: Data and Monitoring, Coral Reefs: Climate Resilient Communities.

Alongside these courses, a new online decision support tool was created Coral Reef Rescue Portal. This brings together over 70 existing coral reef datasets and resources in one easy-to-use, searchable platform.