Village Sets up Defence Against Impacts of Climate Change

Across Fiji, more and more communities are taking ownership of their own future sustainability.

On Vanuabalavu, the third larg­est island in the Lau archipelago, the impacts of sea inundation and coastal erosion is a constant threat.

Seventeen villages make up Va­nuabalavu. All are nestled along its coastlines.

In between the villages of Mua­levu and Mavana, about 300 metres away from the mainland, lies a mangrove spot known as Bulia.

A group of village men have taken it upon themselves to put up the only coastal defence they know against rising sea levels. 2930 man­grove seedlings were planted.

ACTING NOW RATHER THAN LATER

Coastal flooding and sea surges, among other climate-related risks are common in coastal low-lying communities in Fiji.

For most community’s mangrove planting has been the first line of defence against the natural threats.

Mavana villager, Eroni Bale Viri­ki, said coastal erosion was never an issue in the past until Category Five Severe Tropical Cyclone Win­ston hit in 2016.

“After TC Winston, and the cy­clones that followed last year, we noticed how our beachfront has started becoming defence-less from stopping waves reaching the village grounds,” Mr Viriki said.

“It is not just about the intrusion of sea water coming onto our roads or village grounds, we also have to go further out to sea to catch fish compared to days where we could just fish nearby,” he said.

“All these are just pieces to the puzzles of understanding that cli­mate change is real and if we do not act now, our future generation will suffer.”

Mr Viriki says the group initiative was led by Kiniviliame Keteca.  He is a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific.

Mavana Village youth Apisalome Waqa admiring the work they have done so far. Photo: Eroni Bale Viriki