In Barotu Village, Fiji, fish warden Setaita Biu emphasizes the vital relationship between her community and the sea, likening the need for fish to the need for mangroves. Since Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston struck in 2016, damaging mangroves and initially reducing local crab populations, there is now significant hope for ecological recovery.
Under the Kiwa Initiative’s RESTORE project, efforts have commenced to rehabilitate the mangrove ecosystem. The program has successfully restored nine hectares of mangroves in Navitilevu Bay, supported by the Fiji Blue Carbon Project. It aims to ultimately restore 200 hectares of mangroves and transplant 80,000 coral fragments across Fiji, Samoa, and Timor-Leste, focusing on community-led restoration to combat climate change.
The RESTORE initiative emphasizes the involvement of Indigenous and local communities, providing training in sustainable practices like beekeeping, aquaculture, and financial literacy. Setaita notes that with the resurgence of mangroves, crab populations are also returning, contributing to the revival of local livelihoods.
Furthermore, the project aims to enhance knowledge sharing among over 150 communities across the region, fostering resilience through collaborative learning. This movement shows promising signs of ecological recovery along the coastline, with green shoots of mangroves appearing and marine life returning.
In a notable example of citizen engagement, community members gathered for World Mangrove Day to celebrate the restoration of their environment. Setaita’s story highlights how community leadership is essential for ecological healing, presenting a hopeful narrative of restoration that prioritizes both nature and local people’s livelihoods.
The Kiwa Initiative’s broader mission focuses on protecting and sustainably managing biodiversity to help Pacific Island communities adapt to climate change impacts, generating collective benefits for both ecosystems and the people.
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