Mangrove Management

Over the past years, there has been an increase in environmental consciousness within the Fijian government, most likely out of necessity. In such a vulnerable low lying area of the south Pacific, Fijians are threatened by rising sea levels and destruction of their coastlines.

 

            The Department of the Environment has introduced two progressive pieces of legislation addressing mangroves: The Fiji Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (BSAP) and the Sustainability bill. Both plans “commit Fiji to the protection and conservation of a variety of life forms, plants, animals, micro-organisms, genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form.” (Agrawala pg. 37). So far, the Fijian government has passed no official legislation, however these proposals show that we are on our way toward some type of action.

            Local Fijian villages have relative autonomy over their land and water resources and have maintained healthy mangrove ecosystems for thousands of years. The subsistence economy of these local villages has proved sustainable over the years, but is now being tested by increases in commercial activities in surrounding areas. More and more, native Fijians are pressured to give up resources to large timber companies and developers due to the large sums of money offered to them. A lack of organization within tribal councils has been alleviated by a variety of non- governmental organizations such as OISCA, who steps in to promote restoration projects and other endeavors. Another program, Fiji Locally Managed Marine Areas Network has nine project sites on Fiji and works with local villagers to set ocean resource use levels. In addition, these organizations promote sustainability education to largely uneducated villagers within local communities.

            Through a combination of governmental action and local village cooperation, the future prospects of Fijian mangroves look promising.

_______________________________________________________

Agrawala, Shardul, et al. "Development and Climate Change in Fiji: Focus on coastal mangroves." Environment Directorate and Development Cooperation Directorate, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Paris (2003).

 Photo Citations:

"Tiempo Climate Newswatch." , Community Adaptation in a Small Island Developing Country. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.tiempocyberclimate.org/newswatch/feature100723.htm>.

"OISCA Fiji Chilidren's Forest Prgram "Biodiversity2010" | The Green Wave." OISCA Fiji Chilidren's Forest Prgram "Biodiversity2010" | The Green Wave. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://greenwave.cbd.int/node/7510>.