Building of Resilient Communities in Ra , Fiji

Dear GlobalGiving Supporters,

We are always grateful for your generosity. Your support is making a real difference on the ground. Thanks to the mangroves planted in Ra province with your generous support, the impact of cyclones was significantly reduced. Recognizing that mangrove forests provide a natural shield against natural disasters, nearby communities have been reaching out to us saying they now want to plant mangroves in their own communities.

In this report, we will talk about new mangrove planting initiative in Yadua village, Nadroga-Navosa province. The village directly faces the sea, and is recognized as a tsunami hazard zone. For Yadua residents, it is always a critical matter to prepare for natural disasters such as tsunamis, storm surges, and cyclones. Hence, OISCA’s initiatives are gaining interest here.

Seeing local residents recognize the powerful impact they can make in their own communities, we decided to support their initiative. At OISCA, our goal is not only to increase the number of planted trees, but also to build local knowledge and capacities to strengthen grassroots level disaster preparedness.

Furthermore, this initiative demonstrates that our continuous efforts are being recognized locally, with activities in one area spreading to others. The fact that residents reach out to learn about our work show that the support we have received from you brought tangible results on the ground, inspiring new initiatives.

At the same time, many communities in Fiji are located along the coast and face high risks of natural disasters. Even when a community wishes to “plant trees”, as in this case, implementing these activities requires various expenses and ongoing support. This includes securing seedlings, gathering materials and the necessary personnel, transporting them to the site, and ensuring post-planting maintenance and management.

Instead of limiting the experience gained from our past activities to a single region, we hope to respond to other community requests and expand mangrove planting to more coastal areas. To achieve this, your continued support remains absolutely essential.

With this tree-planting activity in Yadua Village serving as a new step forward, we will further expand activities we have cultivated, continuing to contribute to the creation of communities where the people of Fiji can prepare for natural disasters and live with peace of mind.