We are experiencing a dangerous rise in sediments along the river

22/10/08 Pacific, Fiji, Isoa Koroiwaqa writes:
I am from the Fiji islands in the South Pacific. My village sits near an estuary and we have come across flooding over the years, the most recent in 2004 where we had to be evacuated. We are experiencing a dangerous rise in sediments along the river and we have contacted the Fiji government for some research. We really need some technical assistance to study what is happening so that we as a people can get some information that will help us in making a decision whether to move or not.

Isoa Koroiwaqa
Institute of Applied Science
University of the South Pacific

28/10/08 Pacific, Fiji, Isoa Koroiwaqa writes:
The rising sediment levels along the river is affecting over 500 people from 5 villages. 4 of these communities are located along the upper banks of the river and for the past five years have found that they can no longer fish beside their village nor along the river as sediment has covered the fishing spots (habitats). Now they have to walk five kilometres to the sea to fish and that means leaving home in the morning and returning at dusk.

The rise in sediments has also pushed gravel materials into a section of my village's mangrove swamp that now we are not able to harvest grabs etc as our fingers hurt/bruised. The gravel is spreading and we have started to plant selected plants and mangrove species with the hope that when they grow big, their root system will block the gravel from entering the mangrove fisheries.

Along the river banks, because of fear of flooding, people have stopped planting root crops and vegetable and this is about 10 meters from the river bank. We are planning to plant Vertiva Grass and other erosions controlling plants to try and save our river banks from more erosion. We are building a small nursery for plants which would provide the supply we need for our river banks work. We are trying this out, if their are some advice from you, please do forward it -we would appreciate it.

About 18 families, for the past 10 years have built their homes away from the village as they fear flooding, but most of the people would rather stay put.

Major floodings occurred in 1972, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1998, 2004.

There is no logging taking place in the water catchment areas and we suspect it has got to do with climate change, because some sections of the forest in particular along the streams that feed the big river pig hunters have seen mud slides/erosion.

Vinaka (Thank you).