From Kyoto’s sacred mountains to the Sea of Japan - and into the depths with the legendary Ama divers - a global movement of women redefines what climate leadership looks like.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SINGAPORE - April 2026

In a world searching for scalable climate solutions, Her Planet Earth is taking a different path - one rooted not in theory, but in lived experience, ancestral knowledge, and the quiet power of women.

In October 2026, the organisation will lead its 20th all-female expedition: a seven-day, 80-kilometre “Mountain to Sea” journey across Kyoto Prefecture’s remote interior, culminating at Amanohashidate on the Sea of Japan.

This is not simply an expedition.
It is a statement.

A team of 12 women will traverse ancient trade routes, forested passes, and rural communities - not to conquer a landscape, but to connect with it, and to spotlight one of the most under-recognised forces in climate resilience: women.

The expedition aims to raise US$50,000 in support of Conservation International Fiji, funding women-led seaweed initiatives that sit at the intersection of livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.

Where Tradition Becomes Blueprint

Alongside the trek, part of the team will travel to Ise-Shima to meet Japan’s legendary Ama divers - a community of female free divers whose practice spans more than 2,000 years.

Diving without oxygen, often into their 70s, the Ama harvest pearls, shellfish, and seaweed using techniques passed down through generations. They represent a rare model of coexistence with the ocean - one that modern sustainability frameworks are only beginning to understand.

Their leadership is not performative.
It is precise, enduring, and deeply ecological.

In many ways, their story mirrors that of the women supported through this expedition in Fiji - women whose knowledge is inherited, whose livelihoods are shaped by nature, and whose role in climate resilience remains critically undervalued.

A Journey Through the Soul of Japan

The route follows historic merchant trails through Kyoto’s mountainous hinterland - weaving through cedar forests, quiet valleys, and disappearing rural villages before reaching Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s most iconic coastal landscapes.

Participants will stay in intimate, family-run inns, directly supporting local economies and preserving forms of cultural heritage increasingly at risk.

Japan offers something rare in today’s world:
a lived philosophy of restraint, respect, and relationship with nature.

This expedition is designed to experience that philosophy, not observe it.

Why This Matters Now

Climate resilience is not a future ambition. It is already being built - often quietly - by women.

Funds raised will support Conservation International’s work in Fiji, where women in coastal communities sustainably harvest nama (sea grapes) using traditional practices.

The project improves access to processing infrastructure, financial literacy, and markets—helping women strengthen their livelihoods while restoring coastal ecosystems. It is an investment in traditional knowledge and nature-based solutions that have sustained these communities for generations.

And it is a reminder that those most affected by climate change are often those best positioned to respond to it.

“This expedition is a reminder that some of the most powerful climate solutions are already being led by women - quietly, locally, and with extraordinary resilience. From Japan to Fiji, we want to honour that wisdom and help channel more visibility and support towards it.” - Christine Amour-Levar, Founder, Her Planet Earth

Photo credit: Fijian Ministry of Fisheries and Women of Solatavui in Kadavu, Fiji

Adventure as a Catalyst for Systems Change

Her Planet Earth has built a global community around a simple but powerful idea: that challenge can unlock perspective - and perspective can drive action. From Antarctica to the world’s most remote deserts and mountain ranges, each expedition is designed to do more than inspire. It is designed to fund, to amplify, and to connect. The Japan expedition marks a milestone - the organisation’s 20th journey - and signals a deeper alignment between experience and impact.

At its core is one of the most overlooked climate solutions of our time:

Seaweed.

A resource that sits at the intersection of carbon sequestration, food security, biodiversity restoration, and women’s economic empowerment.

A New Model for Travel - and Leadership

As demand grows for experiences with meaning, Her Planet Earth is shaping a new model:

Immersive, yet intentional
Transformational, yet grounded
Personal, yet globally relevant

From Kyoto’s sacred paths to the depths of the ocean with the Ama, this journey is anchored in a simple truth:

When women move with purpose, they do not just cross landscapes - they reshape systems.

About Her Planet Earth

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Singapore, Her Planet Earth is a non-profit organisation and global women’s advocacy movement working at the intersection of female empowerment and environmental conservation. Through bold, self-funded expeditions to some of the world’s most remote and threatened regions - from the Arctic to the Antarctic - the organisation raises awareness for sustainability while directing funds to projects that strengthen climate resilience for women and communities on the frontlines of environmental change.

Her Planet Earth supports a diverse portfolio of initiatives spanning wildlife conservation, regenerative agriculture, coral reef restoration, reforestation, seaweed farming, and community-based livelihood development across Asia-Pacific, the Himalayas, the Middle East, and Africa.

Each program is designed to strengthen the resilience of women whose lives and communities are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change - ensuring they have the resources, skills, and opportunities not only to adapt, but to thrive and lead within their ecosystems. Bringing together a global network of adventurers, scientists, feminists, and changemakers, Her Planet Earth is redefining what climate action can look like - mobilising resources, elevating women’s leadership, and proving that environmental protection and gender equality are strongest when advanced together.

About Conservation International

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

Conservation International works with communities, industry and the Government of Fiji to protect forests, reefs, fisheries, and freshwater through a ridge-to-reef approach. Its work includes the Sovi Basin, Fiji’s largest terrestrial protected area, and the Lau Seascape, which covers about 8% of Fiji’s EEZ.

Conservation International partners with women-led seaweed cooperatives to strengthen income generation, improve processing capabilities, and expand market access - positioning women as leaders of regenerative, community-based economies.

Visit Conservation.org to learn more, and follow us on ConservationNews,  Facebook, Twitter, TikTok,  Instagram and YouTube.

Team Profiles

The Her Planet Earth Japan Mountain to Sea Expedition 2026 will bring together 12 women from diverse nationalities, backgrounds and life experiences.

Each woman brings her own story, strengths and perspective to the journey. While they are all highly accomplished in their respective fields, they are equally united by a shared passion for environmental conservation, women’s empowerment and purpose-led adventure.

Together, they represent the spirit of Her Planet Earth - women stepping beyond the familiar, crossing landscapes and cultures, and using expedition as a force for impact.

Meet the team and read their full profiles here.

For media inquiries, please contact: 📧 connect@herplanetearth.com

🌍 Support the Mission & Follow the Journey

Donations can be made via the team’s JustGiving Page to help HER Planet Earth reach its USD 50,000 goal in support of the Conservation International’s Women Seaweed Farmers in Fiji:HPE Team Fundraising Page

To follow the expedition in real-time and stay updated on conservation efforts and stories from the field, connect with Her Planet Earth on social media:

📸 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/herplanetearth 📘 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/herplanetearth 💼 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/herplanetearth

For media inquiries:
connect@herplanetearth.com

Pearls, Purpose, and the Power of Women: Her Planet Earth Unveils Landmark 2026 Japan Expedition