The most ambitious study ever undertaken in the island group of Vava'u in Tonga is expected to reveal much more about the plants and animals of the archipelago.
A team of biologists is just embarking on a mission to conduct biodiversity and ecological assessments of land and marine sites.
It's a collaboration between the Tonga government and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
Bruce Jefferies from SPREP says the ultimate goal is to add to Tonga's protected area network.
Mr Jefferies says they will also be looking at a marine special planning approach for the archipelago, a practice being used more and more in Pacific islands.
"Not just put protected areas in place but look at zoning areas for no-take, fisheries, zoning areas for community based fisheries, some for commercial fisheries and for tourism of course which is important here, so that whole suite of activities that take place now in the marine environment."
Bruce Jefferies.
The expedition wraps up at the end of this month.
