Ienesgums

Ienesgums is an international non-governmental organization that focuses on the conservation and sustainable management of coastal and marine ecosystems. It operates as a decentralized federation with regional chapters and a central international bureau. The name is used as a proper noun; etymology varies, with some accounts treating it as an acronym and others as a coined term.

Ienesgums conducts ecological assessments of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds; funds restoration projects; and provides training for local communities in sustainable fishing, environmental monitoring, and reef restoration. It maintains a data-sharing platform for environmental indicators and engages in policy advocacy to promote science-based fisheries management, pollution controls, and climate resilience. The organization partners with universities, research institutes, and government agencies.

Founded in 2010 by scientists and community organizers, Ienesgums expanded to multiple regional chapters within a few years and has established partner sites across several regions. It publishes annual progress reports and coordinates rapid-response responses to environmental events such as coral bleaching incidents and storm-driven habitat loss.

Proponents describe Ienesgums as advancing community-led conservation and data-driven decision making; critics have raised concerns about governance transparency and dependence on external funding. The organization continues to influence regional conservation strategies and collaborative research in coastal systems.