THE Shangri-La's Fijian Resort and Spa has planted about 2000 mangrove seedlings on its beaches as part of its campaign to protect the marine ecosystem and habitat.
Resort service manager Marine Sanctuary Mereoni Mataika said the project was to help protect its shorelines.
"We planted these seedlings with some volunteers and schools from the villages in Sigatoka," Ms Mataika said.
She said the resort wanted to regrow mangrove trees along its coast.
"We used to have mangroves along our shores but they were cut down and now we want to replant it," Ms Mataika said.
"It protects our shorelines as a natural seawall," she said.
"Mangroves are very important. They provide shelter for marine organisms and when they are cut down, most of these organisms are at risk and sometimes perish," she said. Ms Mataika said once mangroves were destroyed, the coral would be affected as well.