‘Freesoul Removed 8000 Mangroves In Malolo Island’
Close to 8000 mangroves were removed during the digging of a channel in Malolo Island by Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited. The statement was made by Environment Department director Sandeep Singh during the hearing of Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited case at the High Court in Suva yesterday.
Tuesday 29 March 2022 | 14:12
Director for Environment Sandeep Singh outside court in Suva on March 28, 2022. Photo: LeonLord
Close to 8000 mangroves were removed during the digging of a channel in Malolo Island by Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited.
The statement was made by Environment Department director Sandeep Singh during the hearing of Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited case at the High Court in Suva yesterday.
Freesoul is convicted for undertaking unauthorised developments, between June 8, 2017, and December 6, 2018, at Malolo Island in Nadi for development activities without an approved Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report.
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Ms Singh said the damage was significant to the environment and it was unauthorised.
Ms Singh said mangroves played an important role in climate adaptation and mitigation as well carbon sequestration.
“Mangroves are also the first line of defence for coastal communities, stabilizing shorelines by slowing erosion and provide natural barriers from increased storm surge, flooding, and hurricanes,” she said.
“The removal of mangroves caused a massive loss in biodiversity around the area.”
The court heard that the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) gave approval to Freesoul Limited to access Malolo Island by sea.
Freesoul had paid a $402,182.44 bond to the department which was accepted for land-based activities only and not for the foreshore.
Both parties have been given time until April 22 to file their sentencing and mitigating submissions.
The High Court will deliver its sentence on April 28.
