Navakacoa Village, situated on the northeastern coast of Taveuni, relies heavily on fish and marine resources for its community’s sustenance and livelihoods. However, the village has faced a noticeable decline in fish stocks over the years, prompting residents to reminisce about earlier times when their parents and grandparents could easily catch fish near the shore.
Today, villagers find themselves traveling further out to sea in search of adequate fish supplies. Factors such as overfishing, land degradation, and the destruction of mangroves along the coast have severely impacted the health of the local marine ecosystem. The removal of mangroves, driven by their popularity as a source of timber and firewood, has been particularly detrimental.
According to the National Mangrove Management Plan of 2013, more than 3,464 hectares of mangroves were lost across Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and Kadavu from 1991 to 2007, averaging a loss of 217 hectares each year. Mikaele Tawake, the village headman and known as the “mangrove ranger,” has been a strong advocate for the restoration and preservation of mangroves in Taveuni’s Cakaudrove and Wainikeli districts.
Mr. Tawake shared his personal connection to the mangroves, stating, “I used to see big-sized crabs, but as the mangroves were removed, they slowly disappeared.” He noted that discussions about the reduction of fish began in 2006 among women in the village, leading to initiatives aimed at restoring fish populations.
Mangroves are vital nurseries for various marine life, including fish, crabs, and prawns. Their health directly impacts the broader marine ecosystem. They also play an essential role in filtering pollutants and sediments that can harm seagrass and coral reefs, as well as storing atmospheric carbon.
In 2008, Mr. Tawake spearheaded a mangrove replanting campaign, which saw the successful growth of mangroves and the subsequent return of fish populations. In 2012, a provincial council meeting resulted in a ban on the removal of mangroves in Taveuni, with exceptions made only for firewood.
Despite this ban, the demand for road improvements and power line installations in coastal areas has led to renewed destruction of mangroves. In response, Mr. Tawake established a nursery that nurtures about 3,000 mangrove seedlings and initiated various replanting efforts in partnership with the Navakacoa Youth Club and Women’s Group, supported by the Kiwa Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change Plus (PEBACC+) Project.
During a recent consultation with the community’s women and youth, Mr. Tawake emphasized the importance of restoring mangroves for future generations. “If we don’t act now, our children will wonder why there’s a lack of fish,” he remarked.
On June 7, 2024, in celebration of World Environment Day, community members gathered at Naisogo Point to plant 300 coastal plants to replace those cleared for power line expansion. Following this, they conducted a beach cleanup and planted more than 4,000 mangrove trees—marking the beginning of a new collaboration focused on restoring and rehabilitating local mangrove ecosystems.
Akeneta Moceiqalitu, president of the Navakacoa Women’s Group, expressed her gratitude for the community involvement, stressing the shared responsibility in replanting mangroves to benefit the local habitat. “When I first came to Navakacoa, I caught large fish frequently, but now it’s rare,” she shared. She is committed to this initiative as a way of supporting the entire community.
Pelasio Raibia, president of the Navakacoa Youth Club, highlighted the importance of involving youth in these environmental efforts to increase awareness about the significance of mangrove restoration and its impact on fish populations.
The community plans to replant 10 hectares of mangrove under the Kiwa PEBACC+ Project, aiming to utilize nature-based solutions to combat the effects of climate change and support marine life.
Mr. Tawake remains optimistic about the potential for restoring marine resources through increased mangrove planting efforts. “Even after the PEBACC+ project concludes, we will continue our work in mangrove restoration for the next generation,” he asserted.
The Kiwa PEBACC+ Project collaborates with various stakeholders, including provincial offices and the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry, to support overall ecosystem resilience initiatives in Taveuni. The project also emphasizes the importance of sustainable land management practices to complement coastal protection efforts.