Community based coastal conservation initiatives are common in Fiji

Please find below a paragraph which I wish to contribute to the Forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities.

Community based coastal conservation initiatives are common in Fiji. A host of organizations including government departments, provincial authorities, and non governmental organizations are working with resource owning communities to protected and conserve their coral reef and mangrove ecosystems. Despite its popularity, one of the challenges of such initiatives is trying to relate conservation to existing practices, environmental concerns and local livelihoods. One such example is the establishment of a number of mangrove nurseries and replanting of seedlings along Southern coastline of Viti Levu, Fiji. These are community response to coastal deforestation and increasing soil erosion. In addition to mangrove reforestation, several communities have testified that the mangroves have resulted in increasing populations of fish species such as mullets, mangrove jackets and mangrove crabs which are now being found closer to shore. Even though replanting is a separate effort from community established marine protected areas, the two activities are related and supportive of community efforts to restore depleted stocks of marine life which has for decades been their main source of proteins and most recently to a smaller scale provided income generation opportunities. Furthermore, these mangroves are acting as natural sea walls and a protection against increasing occurrences of rising surge waves which according to anecdotal evidence is becoming a common occurrence, whereas elders seldom experienced them in their youthful days. All in all, integrated approaches to conservation are appearing as effective methods of ensuring motivation and effective implementation of community based conservation.

Thanks,

Floyd Robinson
Program Associate
Environment Program
UNDP Multi Country Office
Suva
Fiji