In a moment of true significance, the district of Nadogo, aptly named ‘Mangrove’ in indigenous Fijian, commemorated this year’s World Mangrove Day with an extraordinary milestone — the formal declaration of its inaugural permanent community island-protected area.
The area, called Nukuvadra, is one of the four islands that exist within the Nadogo District iqoliqoli or traditional fishing boundaries.
The total designated area is 64.4 hectares and includes the island, mangroves and the marine area up to the reef edge surrounding the island. A total of 6.56 hectares will be protected permanently with this community declaration.
The event is the culmination of awareness and consultations facilitated by the Fiji office of the Worldwide Fund for Nature in the Pacific (WWFPacific), in partnership with the Nadogo Development committee since 2018.
The effort has been spearheaded by the three traditional heads of the district, the Tui Nadogo, Tui Raviravi Sawana and Tui Nubu, who collectively recognise the urgency of safeguarding the district’s natural resources for biodiversity protection.
Tui Nadogo Ratu Ilisaniti Malodali highlighted the declaration as a showcase of what can be achieved through collaboration by communities, government and non-government partners such as WWF.
“Despite our ever-evolving context in the modern world, traditional leadership still has a role to play and can meaningfully guide communities’ understanding and contribution to national environment commitments,” Ratu Ilisaniti said.
The Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Sakiusa Tubuna, commended the three traditional leaders for their leadership and foresight which culminated in the traditional declaration on Wednesday.
Emphasising the transformative impact of this initiative, Mr Tubuna said the declaration of Nukuvadra as a protected area stands as a shining model for other districts in Macuata and Fiji to follow.
“It exemplifies the remarkable outcomes that can be attained through dedicated effort and harmonious co-operation among stakeholders,” Mr Tubuna added.
According to WWF, Nadogo District collectively retains over 1300 hectares of intact mangroves, and Nukuvadra being declared permanently protected, showcases the Nadogo chiefs and community’s commitment to not only protect mangroves but further their intentions to bring their entire iqoliqoli or fishing grounds under sustainable management.
WWF-Pacific’s director Dr Mark Drew said the initiative was a significant contribution towards combating climate change through the strategic use of protected areas and mangroves as adaptation tools.
“It is commendable and amidst the ongoing impacts of climate change, these protected areas and mangroves play a critical role, particularly in safeguarding food security through fisheries and serving as active carbon sinks through sequestration,” Dr Drew said.
The foundational community protected efforts supported in Nadogo District through WWFPacific was funded by the WWF-Netherlands Office and continues to be supported under the mangroves focus of the Bezos Earth Fund through the WWF- US Office.
