New Policy Will Enhance Mangrove Conservation And Management

A new policy on the Conservation and Management of Fiji’s Mangrove Ecosystems will enable the Ministry of Environment to enhance its role in mangrove protection.

The draft mangrove regulation was funded by the Bezoes Earth Fund.

Ministry’s senior environmental officer, Krishneel Nand, said plans were formulated during the draft consultation on Mangrove Conservation and Management Regulation in Labasa last week.

Key stakeholders from Government, non-government partners, community representatives and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) developers attended the consultation.

Mr Nand thanked the non-government organisation, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for its collaborative support in their conservation efforts and engagement in mangrove protection consultations.

Mr Nand said the proposed policy would enhance the ministry’s leadership role in effectively supporting mangrove conservation practices.

He said the policy would enforce and strengthen existing protection measures of our country’s mangrove ecosystem with efforts to halt further mangrove losses.

“It will also support the restoration of degraded mangrove ecosystems and functions,” he said.

The consultation was the third to be organised around the country where similar sessions were held in Nadi and Suva on August 18.

Mr Nand said the policy would be impactful in strengthening the ministry’s legal and institutional mandates.

These mandates included: Environment Management Act (2005), the Environment Management (EIA process) Regulations 2007, the Environment Management (Waste Disposal and Recycling) Regulations 2007, Endangered and Protected Species (EPS) Act 2002, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2020-2025.

This conservation drive and intent to save our mangrove cover led to the ministry launching its Job for Nature Rehabilitation Programme (J-NR).

Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj