Growing in intertidal zones, mangrove ecosystems have contributed immensely towards livelihoods of coastal communities. With its natural services ranging from habitat for fish species, crustaceans, invertebrates and birdlife, mangrove ecosystems have also provided a barrier against wave action and sediment erosion. Acting as filters for pollutants originating from land based activities; mangrove ecosystems have supported other important marine ecosystems such as sea grass beds and corals reefs.
Unfortunately although the services and products derived from mangrove ecosystems are significant, they are undervalued and in many cases regarded as mere swamps.
Mangrove ecosystems are cut down for wood; they are used as waste disposal grounds and large areas are removed for development purposes. This increasing destruction to mangroves is likely to continue if sustainable management of these resources is not encouraged and strengthened.
Being found on the land-water interface, a number of authorities in Fiji have a say when it comes to mangrove ecosystems through the national laws they administer. The Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Forests and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Native Land Trust Board, and the landowners are central to the decision making process for any mangrove area.
Over the years, it has been realized that to overcome cross sectoral management issues, co-management of mangroves is essential for improved decision making.
The Mangrove Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation and Livelihoods (MESCAL) project is an attempt to encourage the necessary actions needed in implementing countries (Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga) to promote appropriate management of mangroves for sustainable livelihood and protection of coastal communities.
The MESCAL Regional Project is administered by the IUCN Regional Oceania Office under its Water and Wetlands Programme and implemented through the Department of Environment. The German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety supports this project within the framework of the International Climate Initiative.
The MESCAL Fiji Project is aiming at ‘strengthening mangrove management in Fiji’ and hopes to accomplish the following outcomes during its implementation phase.
The MESCAL Fiji Project is aiming at ‘strengthening mangrove management in Fiji’ and hopes to accomplish the following outcomes during its implementation phase.
The Mangrove Management Committee (MMC) has been re-established by the project as a technical advisory committee under the National Environment Council (NEC), and it now acts as the implementing committee for the MESCAL Fiji Project.
The reestablishment of the committee emphasizes the importance of mangroves as essential and valuable ecosystems. The committee also recognizes the increasing pressure to carry out coastal development and the need to ensure this is carried out in a sustainable manner.
The MESCAL Fiji Project and the Mangrove Management Committee have common goals of promoting sustainable management of mangroves for community livelihoods and encouraging informed decision making among stakeholders.
