CLIMATE change is the biggest threat to the people of Rewa because of its impact on their livelihood and environment.
Epeli Mataitini, who has witnessed the ever rising sea level in his village is also part of the regional conference on local governments for climate change that will end tomorrow at the University of the South Pacific.
Mr Mataitini said the people of Rewa, particularly in Lomanikoro had been subject to climate change for a long time.
However, he said they were very grateful to the government for dredging the river which had lessened the impacts on its people.
"Before we only experienced these changes during high tide but now it's like a norm for low-lying areas to be flooded as well as houses," Mr Mataitini said.
He said the question of relocation was something they would have to consider because it would be difficult to start a new life elsewhere. According to the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the same problem was faced by the people of Bau.
Ratu Epeli said while it may be true that Fiji had enough land to accommodate her people from inundated areas, their social capital in culture and traditions would be affected speedily with difficulty to balance and hence it would affect them negatively through resettlement in new locations.
"In Fiji's case of Rewa, Bau and other parts of Fiji, the same scenario is staring at us in the face where they witnessed the social upheaval through dislocation and stresses in resettled areas," he said.
He said Fiji had put in place a policy and institutional reform that involved the updating of existing legislation and policies.
He said the focus of the reform was to ensure sustainable economic and social development and thereby improve the livelihoods of all communities including local government in Fiji.