Building of Resilient Communities in Ra , Fiji

Thank you as always to all our supporters here on GlobalGiving. With your generosity, the Ra community continues to build a stronger coastline and more resilient lives – now in a cleaner and more efficient way. In this report, we want to introduce a small but smart innovation we have adopted to reduce waste and make our mangrove planting more sustainable. 

OISCA has been planting mangroves in Fiji’s Viti Levu island since 1993. Once abundant in mangroves, the southwest coastlines of Viti Levu saw widespread forest degradation by the early 1990s due to devastating tropical cyclones. Coast mangroves are powerful ecosystems that protect shores from storms and waves, as well as absorb sediment from rivers. They also provide habitat for local fisheries, increasing biodiversity and contributing to the economy of local communities. In rehabilitating mangroves, OISCA is taking a sustainable approach, engaging local communities and using hand tools for planting activities. 

Usually, mangrove planting can be carried out by directly planting propagules (parts of a parent tree that detach and develop into a new mangrove) into the soil along the coast. However, this method only works in calm areas such as bays, where there is little wave or wind action. This is because before the roots can fully develop, the propagules may be knocked over or washed away by waves. Since our reforestation site faces the open sea and is exposed to strong wind and wave action, we have to plant saplings that are pre-grown in a nursery until they have five to six leaves. Until recently, we used to grow these saplings not in nursery pots, but in plastic bags with punched holes, so the tree roots can protrude from them. When planting the saplings, we removed the bags. However, since the bags could not be reused, they would turn into waste, which was our great concern. Plastic bags take years to decompose, and if not disposed properly, might enter the ocean, posing threat to marine life through ingestion and entanglement.

Therefore, we recently made an experiment by growing seedlings in half-cut containers. Each container could fit 50 seedlings, and in the end, there was no negative impact on their growth. Not only can these containers be reused, but they also make saplings management easier and require less soil. With this small innovation, it is now also more convenient to move the saplings as one person can easily handle a 50-sapling container at a time. 

Moving forward, we plan to adopt this method for seedling cultivation in other reforestation sites. For this step-by-step progress, we have you to thank. Your contributions advance Fijians’ resilience to climate change and improve coastal livelihoods. We will continue to do our best to support local communities and the environment through powerful mangrove lands. 

Our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported OISCA-Fiji activity.

Our work in the Ra Province aims to build communities resilient to natural disasters and cyclones through restoring mangrove forests and spreading awareness about disaster prevention. Importantly, local communities are directly and actively involved in the planting activities, gaining hands-on experience and understanding their vital role in building community`s safety.

As part of this effort, a planting of 2,200 mangrove was conducted on April 9, with active participation of 35 locals from Nakorotubu District -- including students from Nakorotubu Secondary Schools.

Prior to every planting session, the coordinators conducted a safety briefing and demonstrated a proper planting technique. While some of the participants had no prior experience with mangrove planting, everyone worked proactively, showing a sense of understanding and responsibility for the future of their communities.

Although the village had been experiencing unfavorable weather conditions – including strong ocean winds and unpredictable rainfall – the project was successfully completed thanks to the low tide conditions on the day of planting.

OISCA-Fiji is committed to continue strengthening its relations with local communities while also collaborating with relevant stakeholders to achieve the common goal of securing sustainable livelihoods for the people of Ra Province.

Once again, we express our deepest appreciation to GlobalGiving donors for their enormous contribution that enabled us continue our coastal rehabilitation efforts in Fiji.