Indigenous land and i-qoliqoli owners in Vanua Levu say they welcome the establishment of mangrove wardens to monitor destruction of the important sea trees.
They made their views known during the draft Mangrove Regulation consultation in Labasa last week which was attended by community representatives from the three provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata.
Vunivutu Village headwoman Ranadi Raluna said the wardens would help increase awareness at grassroots level on the importance of mangroves.
“It’s a good call by stakeholders to have mangrove wardens because many people still take these trees for granted, its existence in our ocean is very important,” she said.
“Along the coastal area in Nadogo where my village is located, we have noticed the disappearance of certain fish species that used to be prevalent in the mangrove area.
“And I believe they have disappeared because people cut down mangrove trees to clear the way for their fishing boats or for other purposes.”
World Wildlife Fund–Pacific conservation director Fiji Francis Areki said the feedback from participants around the country towards the proposed regulation had been positive.
“This defines the role of mangrove wardens, procedures to follow to lodge reports to the Ministry of Environment and these issues are being discussed,” he said.
“The draft regulation will help improve the cultivation and management of mangroves across Fiji and this will come under the Environment and Management Act.”
