It is an international activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem concerning its health, integrity and sustainability. Frequently, the ecosystem that requires restoration has been degraded, damaged, transformed or destroyed as the direct or indirect result of human activities.

Five days dry forest ecological restoration workshop was held to address just that, from the 5th -9th of February in Dreketi, Vanua Levu. The workshop was hosted by Nature Fiji Mareqeti Viti, in partnership with Botanic Gardens Conservation International who is working on a project to enhance capacity for tree conservation and dry forest restoration in Fiji.

This Keidanren Nature Conservation funded initiative focusses on the development of restoration activities which includes building capacity in Fijian stakeholders for the restoration of dry forests including the development of general restoration guidelines for dry forest restoration initiatives in Fiji, as well as more specific restoration plan for a dry forest restoration site in Nakanacagi, Vanua Levu. Participants from SPC Land Resources Division, National Trust of Fiji, Conservation International, Ministry of Forestry, Mamanuca Environment Society, community reps from Nakanacagi village and the Macuata district were present during this 5-day workshop.

These individuals, based on their experience provided guidance on the preparation of the Nakanacagi dry forest restoration plan and contributed to both the planning and surveying of the dry forest.

Discussions included planning of forest restoration through the guidance of a restoration site baseline inventory, dry forest species selection, Nursery Techniques, Site Management and Restoration monitoring. Twenty-two dry forest plants were identified during the workshop as plants that were to be considered for the restoration project with their phenology, cultural significance and importance.

Jean Linsky BGCI South-east Asia network coordinator said she was happy that this workshop turned out to be a successful one as all relevant stakeholders and individuals from the Nakanacagi community were actively engaged in planning out the forest restoration plan in the duration of the 5-day workshop.

The Mamanuca Environment Society would like to thank Nature Fiji’s Mareqeti Viti for being given the opportunity to be a part of this capacity building workshop which would greatly assist the organisation in building on the current restoration project in the region.

People all over the world have heard about the plight of sea turtles in the media as their populations have been dramatically reduced worldwide, earning them Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List.

The Mamanuca Islands are one of the major nesting and foraging ground for Green and Hawksbill turtle and were once exploited for traditional use in the Mamanuca Group. The UNDP Small grant programme awareness, the significance of sea turtles, their status in the world and the legislation that protect them are shared with the identified stakeholders, the villages, schools and resorts.

Through the Mamanuca Sea Turtle Conservation Project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), the Mamanuca Environment Society (MES) is working to protect the remaining turtle population in the Mamanuca and Malolo Islands.

It was a fine sunny day on Friday the 26th of January 2018 as resort guests; both young and old, Mana resort staff farewelled a Hawksbill turtle that was found and taken care off at the rehabilitation pond late August of last year. Guests stood side by side in a guard of honour as a guest carried the turtle to the water edge. “I am so glad that I attended todays program not only was it informative but it also touched a lot of hearts once we released the turtle” said Mr Joe Thompson. He was found washed up in front of the beach at Mana Island in 2017.

According to little Miss Audrey a house guest with her parents, she has never touched a turtle in her life and it was a day to remember. She also thanked the organizers and facilitators for the organised program.

Mamanuca Environment Society Project Officer, Ilisapeci Sokidi said during her briefing that the turtle is in collaboration with the resort to create more awareness of nature. “With the existing rehabilitation of injured sea turtles on Mana Island Resort, an exemption from the local Fisheries Department was gained in favour of educational programs for visitors and locals and to breed injured turtles before tagging and releasing them back into the ocean,” said Ms Sokidi.

“Since the Turtle Moratorium expiring in December 2018, the Society’s aim is to build collaborative work with the village communities and the tourist operators to continue protecting these critically endangered sea turtles by promoting sustainable best practices techniques, reducing harvesting of turtles and conservation of breeding and foraging grounds through a range of demonstration, advocacy and capacity building programme added, Ms Sokidi during her briefing.
The turtle release was done on the south-side of the island. “It was a good day and it ended with an emotional goodbye to a resident turtle who had been looked after by Mana staff and Mamanuca Environment Society for 5 to 6 months. We wish the little Hawksbill turtle a safe and long journey.”

MES will continue to work with conservation partners, member resorts, schools and communities in leading the work of turtle conservation to maintain the protection of these critically endangered sea turtle population.

The dry forest provides many environmental benefits including a significant role in the hydrologic cycle, soil conservation, prevention of climate change and preservation of biodiversity.

Parts of the islands in the Mamanuca Group today is evidence of environmental crisis on account of massive deforestation.

On the 10th of January, the youths and children of Yaro in conjunction with Mamanuca Environment Society staff worked tirelessly together on the effort of reforestation for the native terrestrial tree in the village. For years the remorseless destruction of forests has been on-going, and the community has not been able to comprehend the ramifications until recently.

The US Embassy Project was initiated by Mamanuca Environment Society Project Officer Lusiana Dalituicama in the hope of promoting awareness of the need to protect the marine and terrestrial resources in the Mamanuca Region and to assist in the environmentally sustainable development of these resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

A total of 31 plants was transferred from Likuliku, and 21 fruiting trees were brought in from the mainland. The plants included Tavola, Buevu, Vesiwai, Nawanawa and common fruiting trees such as guava, soursop and moli.

With the support and helping hand of young, energetic youths, children and staff, 11 buevu plants were planted along the beach. The remaining 24 plants were planted outside and inside the kindergarten school compound. The Yaro youths have been reminded to have the plants along the shore watered at least twice a week while the plants in the school compound are to be watered by the kindergarten students of Navatalesau.

The youths and children’s involvement in the project is an influential and crucial role that shows their dedication in advocating the importance of sustainability for a better future.

The Environmental School Program for the first term kicks off on the 31st of January and an hour session is conducted every Wednesday and Friday in each school.

The school program has been an annual program set up by MES to incorporate knowledge of protecting our environment in the school curriculum thus creating awareness amongst our children on the importance of their Fiji environment. The outline of the school program covers areas of Ridge to Reef conservation, marine animal interactions, coral reefs, waste and water management and climate change

The curriculum targets grade seven students that included schools such as Mana SDA, Malolo District, and Namamanuca Primary School. Apart from the incorporation of knowledge and awareness on the environment, MES staff also organise celebrations and set up activities for the world marked events on their Environment Calendars such as International Day of Forest, World Water Day and Meteorological Day where children are encouraged to participate.

The objective of the school program is to integrate the theories with practical (hands-on) knowledge.

“This term the children will focus on ridge conservation, the collection of seeds, seedling and creating their compost and low-cost nursery and potting materials using reusable materials,” said Marica Vakacola, MES Project Manager.

“Introducing conservative action and sustainable living amongst our children is at the core of their weekly curriculum” she added.

MES is confident that by targeting the younger generation, these students are inspired to become future environment advocates and become excellent stewards of the sustainable management of their natural resources.

MES would like to sincerely thank all our member resorts, corporate sponsors for continued support.

Sincere thanks also to private businesses in the Western Division that have made donations in kind, towards this initiative.

Vinaka Vakalevu!
 

They are corallivores, covered in long poisonous spines that range from purplish-blue to reddish grey to green.  COTS typically feed on fast-growing Acropora corals (branching & table- allowing for slower growing species such as massive corals to grow).

However, in cases where there is a low coral cover of these coral species due to an abundance of COTS, they may eat other corals such as Porites or foliose. Other than hard corals, they also feed on algae, sponges and soft corals. 

The Pacific Centre for Environment & Sustainable Development and French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development organised a 1-day workshop at the University of the South Pacific Marine Institute on the 21st of November, 2017. The Mamanuca Environment Society was privileged to attend this one-day event titled: “The Crown-of-thorns Issue in Fiji: Challenges & Perspectives”.

According to the facilitators, “Crown of thorns starfish are broadcast spawners, i.e. they reproduce externally and occur in low densities. However, they can dramatically increase during certain periods”. A COTS outbreak would typically show signs of more than 15 individuals located within a reef area of 1 ha (10,000 square meters) and can reduce coral cover to less than 1%. To date, the cause of outbreaks is not entirely determined although we do know they breed once a year and during this breeding season, they are capable of releasing up to 60 million eggs.

Two noticeable factors gathered to cause an outbreak include:

1. Land runoff: runoffs from land add nutrients to the water whereby COTS larva consumes phytoplankton and in turn shortens COTS larval stage (regular period:14-30 days before maturing and settling)

2. CC: warmer temperatures allow for cots spawning to thrive

Behavioural and reproductive data on cots by the scientific community has allowed us to understand this species more and with this information identify ways to closely monitor and eradicate them.

Coral Monitoring can be shared in the OREANET Fiji database and have been used by the institution to eradicate COTS in project sites around Vanuatu and New Caledonia and have been proven effective.

We mainly use steel rods to remove COT’s manually, but there are other useful ways we learned from this workshop that we use to remove these dangerous marine species said Lusiana, the MES project officer. The Mamanuca Environment Society hopes to continue its partnership with the research institute and work more closely with its member resorts in trying to address this recurring issue in the Mamanuca region.

MES conducts sea sampling around member resort properties twice a year in May and November representing summer and winter seasons in Fiji.

The four constituents tested on seawater results are faecal coliform (FC) bacteria, salinity and nutrients- phosphates (P) and nitrates (N).

The results are compared with the Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council (ANZEEC 2002) Seawater Standards and guidelines ensuring that the levels nutrients do not affect coral growth and faecal coliform level do not affect public health and seawater is safe for primary and secondary recreational activities.

The acceptable level of nitrates and phosphate that will not cause eutrophication (excessive growth of algae) is 0.01-0.06 mg/L and 0.001-0.010 mg/L respectively. The acceptable level of faecal coliform bacteria is less than 1 FC/ 100 ml.

MES conducted its last sea water sampling around its member resorts during the outgoing morning tide on the 29th of November. Despite the scattered locations of each sampling site, MES staff conducted the sampling exercise with the assistance of member resort and marine staff that provided support and boat transfer to the next sampling site.

All the well preserved samples were under four degrees of ice during transportation. We visited a total of twelve sampling sites with twenty-four samples taken per site. They were later transported to Suva for analysis at the Water Authority of Fiji laboratory.

Reports will be presented to each resort management once the results are revealed with recommendations for better waste management practices in supporting healthy biodiversity and public health.

MES would like to thank all its Cooperate Sponsors and member resorts in supporting the seawater monitoring program.

The project “Enhancing Sustainable Tourism through Environment Protection in the Mamanuca Islands” focused on maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems targeting community children.

The project aimed to continue its partnership with schools, communities and resorts in up-skilling local knowledge and to allow stakeholders the opportunity to learn about the importance of sustainable tourism through environmental protection and letting them take ownership of the actions they can take to maintain these natural resources.

MES Project officer Ilisapeci Sokidi in her introductory note highlighted that the project is essential in supporting the tourism business in the region.

“With an increase in the number of visitors to the region as well as a population number in the communities of the Mamanuca region, we need to work in unity and advocate the need to protect our natural resources and promote our rich and unique biodiversity,” she said.

This educational program also focuses on building the resiliency of the villages to reduce exposure and sensitivity to climate change.

Undertaken were several organised activities in their respective age grouping. Colouring, storytelling using natural resource management flip charts, group discussion and presentation all spearheading on sustainable practices that can help maintain biodiversity and healthy ecosystems focusing on Ridge to Reef Concept.

An emotional Yaubula Management Support Committee chairman, Jone Rabalolo said that there had been a lot of developments happening and we needed our chiefs and leaders to support our move to protect what we are blessed with.

“Without the support from the Vanua and the village members all this won’t be achieved”, he added.

The programme ended with the children engaged in the tree planting program in the demarcated reforestation site within the village boundary. The long-term dry forest restoration program will continue with the aim of supporting the village livelihood through food and water security. It will also help wildlife.

Sea turtles have existed in our oceans for more than 100 million years, but today they find themselves struggling for their lives and their future.

Fourteen turtles were released into the wild by crew members of the Uto ni Yalo, the Mamanuca Environment Society and a family from Vuda in Lautoka.

Grace Dunn, a Vuda resident, said she discovered the hatchlings outside their home several months ago.

“My initial thought was to contact my friend Lambert Ho, who I knew would be able to point me in the right direction of who to contact,” she said.

“We then contacted the Fisheries Department, and they advised us on what to do. We initially found 28 but lost five of them along the way. I am just glad we were able to release some of the turtles today because I know how precious they are.”

“The whole experience has just been magical.”

Uto ni Yalo crew member Lambert Ho said the release of the turtles meant a lot to the crew.

“We work on creating awareness about conservation, and for us today this meant a lot,” he said. “Our symbol is a turtle, and we are aware that turtles can travel places for years but will always return home to lay eggs.

“Just like the turtle, we may sail across the oceans to different countries but we will always come home to tell our stories of conservation and always relay these messages back to our people and more particularly to the younger generation.”
MES Project Manager Marica Vakacola said they had to monitor several of the turtles for the next few months before they too could be released.

“They are quite young and cannot be released at this stage,” she said.

These creatures are ambassadors of the ocean, for conserving these animals’ means protecting the seas and coastal areas, which in turn means protecting a complex, interconnected world on which human societies depend.

We have made arrangements for a transfer to Mana Island Resort for monitoring on a weekly basis.”

MES will continue to work with conservation partners, member resorts, schools and communities in leading the work of turtle conservation to maintain the protection of these critically endangered sea turtle population in the region.

Twenty KPMG staff got involved with allocated environment projects at the two resorts Castaway Island Resort hosted a group who participated in dry forest seedling sourcing from the pristine forest ecosystem at Qalito island. Qalito Island is one of the remaining islands in the Mamanucas still intact with native dry forest species. The hardworking lads assisted in potting dry forest seedlings they were growing in abundance in the wild-ridge areas.

A collaborative partnership was established with the local communities and MES members to assist islands with degraded dry forest areas. The main aim of the activity is to source and monitor these endangered dry forest species for the nearby villagers Yaro and Solevu to be replanted in the grassland and bare hills of Malolo Levu island.

The team also took part in a coral planting activity in support of the Outriggers OZONE conservation initiative to grow a football field worth of corals. “It was an absolute pleasure learning about the excellent efforts the resorts, and MES is taking to recuperate the natural resources through tree planting, coral planting and protecting the endangered crested iguana species, said Mr Sharvek Naidu.

At Likuliku Lagoon resort, the team also assisted in the dry forest restoration and monitoring of the endemic crested iguanas. The participants were briefed on the dry forest history in the Mamanuca’s and current work in Fiji. With the assistance of the resort Environment Manager, Mr Sialisi Rasalato, he highlighted the relationship between the endemic Fijian Crested Iguana with the dry forest as their habitat and source of food for them. The group also took part in coral planting to help restore the in-house reef ecosystem. The days ended with snorkelling along the in-house reef and exploration of the marine life that inhabits the surrounding fringing reefs.

MES wishes to thank KPMG for taking part in the program and the continuous support from Castaway Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort for hosting the group.

Ahura Resorts, Malolo and Likuliku designed a training program on the 25th of August to enhance the appreciation of the importance of biological diversity and ecological services and goods the forests provided.

Representative from the Natural Resource Management Committees from the four villages in the Malolo Tikina were also part of the training to assist them in understanding the impacts of climate change, stressing the importance of sustainable forest and land use practices, while making connections to meeting daily livelihood needs. The training was indeed an interesting one  as the participants were taken out to projects site for tour visit where Sialisi Rasalato, Ahura Group Environment Manager elaborate on the conservation of dry forest that the Ahura Group is spearheading.

The program includes the tour to the nursery where Sia elaborate more the potted plants in trial methods that he used. Tour to the Iguana Sanctuary was the most interested one as the community members were introduced on the native species of crested iguanas originated from Malolo Levu with a little explanation on the history and how the whole Ahura Reforestation Intiative has boost the protection of these endangered species.

A tour to the reforested area where Sia highlighted on the tree planting programme that is usually done on the last week of every month where guests are most welcomes to take part. “It is always recommended to extend planting from an existing forest patch or water catchments and then move outwards,” Sia said.

Also included in the programme , the tour to  the 10×10 metre demonstration plot . The prototype is part of the groups initiative to preserve and replenish the endangered tropical dry forest ecosystems in the Mamanuca Group.

“We will empower other Yaubula Management Committee Members on what we have learnt today”, these were the words of Solevu YMST Chairman, Maika Nasilasila.

The Mamanuca Environment Society will continue working with the Yaubula management support team in this long-term dry forest restoration program that directly supports the critically endangered Fijian crested iguana and other biodiversity of Malolo Levu and community livelihood for the present and future generation.