Mining activities in Bua have caused considerable harm to coastal ecosystems, as reported by Margaret Vakalalabure, manager of the Coral Reef Rescue Initiative at the World Wildlife Fund Fiji.
Vakalalabure noted that several communities in Bua are suffering from severe soil degradation due to bauxite mining. She highlighted that the greatest affected areas are their coastal ecosystems, which are experiencing significant repercussions from mining operations.
During a workshop held by the Wildlife Conservation Society, she explained that substantial amounts of soil runoff have adversely affected their traditional fishing grounds. “They have really felt the impact and the loss of what has happened across the ecosystem,” she stated.
The consequences have impacted their livelihoods, particularly the availability of resources like mud crabs and fish. “It’s a loss of their culture because these are their traditional fishing grounds,” she emphasized.
Vakalalabure attributed some of the ecological damage to the clearing of mangroves and trees, which serve as natural barriers against tidal surges. “A lot of mangroves have been cleared in order to make way for roads, the construction of factories, businesses, and houses,” she mentioned.
Moreover, she pointed out that this issue extends beyond Bua, affecting other communities as well. “Some communities are being hit by tidal waves with the problem stemming from the removal of mangrove forests for development projects,” she added.
Since the 1970s, approximately 30 million hectares of mangrove forests have been lost in Fiji.