World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. With this year 2013 declared as the International Year of Water Cooperation by the United Nations General Assembly, MES celebrated world water day  with its three participating schools;  Ratu Nemani Memorial School, TA  Learning Centre and Nabila Public School.  Celebrations at the three schools evolved on the theme Water Water Everywhere Only if we share!  Program set out by MES to mark the day included; t-shirt printing, poster competition, poem writing and recital, colouring competition, skits, save water games and saving water demonstrations.

The day began with speeches and flag raising ceremony followed by a power point presentation by MES staff.

The presentation by MES staff focused on the various aspects of water cooperation bringing in cultural, educational and scientific factors, as well as ethical, social, and economical dimensions. At the end of the presentation students dispersed for forty five minutes into their different working groups, to work on the final touches to their posters, colorings and poems, while at the same time, with the help of teachers and parents, t-shirts were being printed employing the method of screen printing. Students, teachers and parents then gathered for the presentations by the students, and judging of the coloring and poster displays, followed by the save water game and saving water demonstrations.

The day culminated with the awarding of prizes, to the competition winners and the presentation of certificates to show appreciation for the effort and hard work shown by the students.

MES would like to take this opportunity to thank Air Pacific for the wonderful gift packs and prizes for the students, the overwhelming support by parents, and the ever hard working passionate teachers for their input towards a successful World water Day. ‘Vinaka Vakalevu!’

A student of Mana SDA school looking through the materials displayed at Mana Island resorts world water day celebrations

Drying T-shirts that were screen printed by the students.

A poster created by a student displayed at Ratu Nemani School

Students of TA Learning center engaging in the world water day activities

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The Ministry joined other stakeholders in launching Fiji’s bid for the global pageant and highlighted that government will use every avenue possible to raise awareness on the dangers of climate change to small island states.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Ruci Mafi said such initiatives will promote efforts to address climate change.

“When we look at climate change we focus on the impacts that have affected our most vulnerable communities especially those that live along the coastal areas,” she said.

All finalists will undergo training and a representative will be chosen to represent Fiji at the 63rd International finals in Indonesia.

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This was a collective submission made by participants at the national faith based environment stewardship summit held in Sigatoka on April 5^th.

Department of Environment director Jope Davetanivalu said these outcomes would show the sign of committed responsibility to better environment stewardship.

“We can work alone in addressing these issues on the protection of environment, however we need your assistance and partnership to mitigate climate change at national level,” Mr Davetanivalu said.

“This summit will also be building platform for interfaith to work with Government in the networking and the co-ordination of national campaigns.”

Minister for Local Government Samuela Saumatua said the finalization of the outcome statement which was presented this morning would be followed up in a meeting to endorse an action plan.

Arya Samaj delegate Satish Kumar said we needed more co-ordination in this area to be able to work collectively.

“Climate change is no longer an issue we can hide away and we need to work together so our future generation will be able to live in a healthy environment free from sea-level rise and flash flooding,” Mr Kumar said.

The summit ended today with the national aim of spreading word to the people that climate change can be controlled through partnership from the various agencies.

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For many years, there was no nesting at the Magical Man Island and the drifter was called Ratu Mana.

Probably tired from years of drifting passively around the Mana Lagoon, fighting waves and predators, the tiny hatchling finally gave up on the popular South Beach.

Jimilai Bete who was on duty saw the baby turtle crawling ashore and took it to the rearing pond.

Activities Manager, Deborah Manulevu said ‘The turtle hatchling was very inactive during its first hours in their captive pond. After three days the hatchling started feeding and moved around actively and is in the care of the Marine Activities staff. The hatchling is feeding well on seagrass and halimeda which is calcerous gree algae,” she said.

Ratu Mana is a Hawkbill turtle belonging to the Eretmochelys imbricate species.

Mamanuca Environment Society Assistant Manager, Mrs  Marica Vakacola was on the island did all measurement for the turtle.

The turtle has a shell width of 4.2cm and a length 5.7cm. All measurement recorded was entered in the Turtle Research and Monitory Database Tool (TRED) which is monitored by South Pacific Region Environment Programme(SPREP) of which Mamanuca Environment Society is a member of.

According to SPREP Turtle Monitoring Representative, Catherine Siota, ‘The data for the new hatchling will be considered as a unique encounter.

It is the first turtle recorded in the TRED for the Mamanuca group this year and Mana Environment Team is happy to keep Ratu Mana in their captive breeding pond together with seven other Hawksbill turtle.

Three out of the seven hawksbill turtle are ready for release to the environment.

“Hawksbill turtle is an endangered species in Fiji and keeping them in captive breeding pond allows more chances of survival. The main danger for hatchlings is from artificial lighting. When the babies emerge, they instinctively move in the brightest direction.

“Normally, this would be the open night sky reflected by the ocean. On a developed beach, artificial lights attract the hatchlings, causing them to crawl in the wrong direction. Other dangers include obstructions on the beach, such as beach chairs, holes, or tire tracks, all of which can block their path to the sea,” said Mrs Vakacola.

Marine activities staff measuring Ratu Mana.

The new found hatchling, Ratu Mana before being transferred to the pond

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Likuliku Lagoon Resort re-opened on the 22^nd of April with twenty guests checking in on this very first day of operation. With the damages brought in by Tropical Cyclone Evan on December 2012, shear hard work and dedication from staff and management saw Likuliku  resort  re-open as scheduled..

Upon the re-opening of the resort, it also marks the resuming of the guest presentation program.

The weekly program is held every Monday at 6.30pm and is a form of awareness on marine and terrestrial environment. The presentation lasts 30 to 45 minutes with 15 minutes question and discussion time where guests ask questions and raise issues regarding the content of the presentation, and their encounters with nature while snorkeling or bush tracking.

In the past, guests that have attended the program usually responded stating that the program should be made compulsory to all in- house guests as marine life awareness and protection is very important and all ought to be informed.  Yet this at first was assumed impossible in honeymoon resorts as Ahura Resorts General Manager and MES Treasurer, Steve Anstey replied that it would not match the setting of Likuliku as honeymooners are here on a holiday and would like to spend the whole time feeling the relaxation mood the resort has to offer. He continued and said that it would be hard to convince guests on a honeymoon to attend a presentation as this would be the last thing on a guests list.  However the Activities Department was given the responsibility  to advertise the program to guests.

With this program now in place, Likuliku hopes that the program will continue to impact the guests by educating them and giving them the proper procedures of engaging in activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, sailing, jet skiing or any other form of environment related activities. Likuliku pledges to continue engaging  in the program due to its positive outcome and the  increasing turnout from guests each week.

MES staff Soropepeli Seru, presenting at the Guest presentation progam

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I’Taukei Affairs Leadership and Management Workshop  in Solevu-

The Mamanuca Environment Society took the lead role on a Leadership and Management Workshop for the Tikina Malolo at Solevu Village on March 14 and 15.

Organized by the I’ Taukei Affairs Board and Institute of Applied Science (IASUSP), the program was intended to cover every province in Fiji.

And it targets community leaders such as the Turaga ni Yavusa, Turaga ni Mataqali, Liuliu ni Tokatoka and other leaders that exists within the village.

The main objective of the workshop was to train leaders to acquire good leadership and management skills-to positively impact community daily living.

Malolo District is compromised of  four villages-Yanuya, Tavua, Yaro and Solevu Village.

MES-represented by Field Officer Soropepeli Seru was invited to speak on the projects and programs the orgainsation runs in-sync with the district.

Mr Seru stressed the importance of proper management and good leadership in the community could control people influence on various environmental laws that are put into place by the government.

“An example was about protecting the marine endangered species. Since Turtles is a totem to the village of Yanuya, if the Chief of Yanuya possesses good leadership, he would be able to protect the species that is their totem by controlling his people. In other words it would mean that they are protecting their customs and traditions, at the same time conserving the population of Turtles.

“Nowadays, community leaders with lack of management and leadership skills would find it hard to control its people in terms of customs and traditions conservation and as well as the protection of the Fijian bank of life, the natural resources,” her said.

It was also agreed by the village leaders for a formation of an environment committee within the village which will work closely with MES in future to deal with every environmental issue that arises.

This is part of the village’s community management and leadership plan for the future to help leaders control environmental issues.

Fiji Locally Managed Area rep Semisi Meo said good leadership and management skills acquired by a leader will benefit the people, land and sea, and its natural resources.

“Without good leadership and management, people, land, sea and natural resources will be affected. Resources are threatened because of poor decision making and poor management by traditional leaders.

“When there is good management and leadership in a community, this will surely reflect on the status of natural resources as it will be utilized sustainably,” added Mr Meo.

Men of Solevu village participating in the workshop discussions

A workshop participant presenting to the group.

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The group spent six weeks in New Zealand, four in Australia and finished the program with two weeks in Fiji which was spent in the Coral Coast and in Mana Island.

During the time of this program the students take up courses covering the environment, culture, history and economics of the visited region. According to the Program leader Professor David Garton, the group are mostly students from the College of Engineering and some from other majors such as Biology, Chemistry and Management.

Professor Garton stated that besides lectures on the ecology of reef systems the students also learned about threats to coral reefs and the important role of Marine Protected Areas.

Field exercises in this course required students to identify major reef species (corals and invertebrates), their distribution, and relative abundance before analysing and presenting their field data in class.

Professor Garton added that while the academic exercises provided a background on how coral reef systems function, the Biology course covered the study of coral reef at three locations (Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the two locations in Fiji the Coral coast and at Mana Island).

Part of their program on Mana Island was attending a lecture session by the Mamanuca Environment Society. The Society Assistant Manager, Mrs Marica Vakacola covered major projects areas in the Mamanuca Group and shared the challenges they face in conserving endangered turtle species and restoration of coral reefs.

She also emphasise the importance of working in collaboration with the Mamanuca member resorts, the local communities and networking with government, non- government organisations and academic institutions in the effort in sustainably managing natural resources and conserving the Mamanuca biodiversity.

Mrs Vakacola said that the university students actively took part in coral specimen collection, replanting on coral tables and transplanting the grown coral onto the North Beach reef edge.

The exercise was also part of the resorts Environment day activity where guests took part and at the end of the activity, the house guests were issued certificate of participation.

Professor Garton said that “the coral planting activity was an excellent introduction for their students to important environmental issues associated with development in the island region. It also provided an experience in management and restoration of a coral reef, where knowledge is applied to local problems and issues.”

Professor Garton said that the coral planting activity compliments the classroom material presented over their six-week long course and hope to repeat the Mamanuca trip next year.

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Department of  Environment director, Mr Jope Davetanivalu said Fiji had existing environmental laws at national level that would be reviewed through the progress of programmes.

“We need to review the mangrove, bird and wildlife and forests conservations action plans which are built in the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan,” Mr Davetanivalu said.

“One area the department focuses on is the progress on awareness, for instance, most villages in the province of Macuata have restricted areas of fishing.”

Marine and mangrove protected areas have been identified and endorsed by traditional leaders within Macuata.

Mr Davetanivalu said one of the positives on awareness programmes was work the department and other stakeholders had worked on to conserve our natural reserves.

International Union for Conservation of Nature director, Mr Taholo Kami said climate change reminded humanity that we had overstepped our boundaries.

“This regional conference will assist pacific islanders to adopt natural solutions in combating the effects of climate change and learn to protect our environment,” Mr Kami said.

“We need to assist our communities to promote the protection of ecosystems and adaptation methods in combating climate change.”

This year’s conference will hold the theme – Natural Solutions: Building resilience for a changing Pacific.

A 2012 Budget allocation of $200,000 from the Government will assist in preparations to host this most significant conference in the Pacific.

-ENDS-

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His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailaitkau raised the challenge during Fiji’s first National Faith-Based Environment Stewardship Summit held in Sigatoka on April 2^nd.

“The global environment is in a crisis. The messages are clear. Climate change is a reality. It is humanity’s greatest challenge today,” Ratu Epeli said.

“There is a critical worrying trend of biodiversity loss across the planet. The accelerating predominance of invasive species is becoming a real concern.”

Fiji has experienced the ravages of climate change and these include storm and wave surges flash flood devastation, excessive soil loss and riverbanks erosion, “talasiga” fires and biodiversity loss due to industrial pollution.

“These ‘negative values’ are propelling us towards an ever greater damage to our environment and all that depend on it,” Ratu Epeli said.

“However, we need to change our mindset towards the impacts of climate change and work together to address this issue at community level.

“We need bold and decisive transformational changes in the way we conduct ourselves. We need to deliver using innovative integrated approaches that are science-based; which are being successfully trialled and piloted.”

The President has encouraged participants to work together to protect Fiji’s fragile environment, conserve its threatened biodiversity and strive to utilize its resources sustainably.

“This is now the time that we have to be serious about being more committed stewards and guardians of Fiji’s environment,” Ratu Epeli said.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Local Government and Environment Colonel Samuela Saumatua shared similar sentiments on how climate change has impacted our region and country.

“In Fiji the sense of complacency has allowed climate change to seriously affect our islands, lack of urgency will sentence our future generation to much difficulties to much difficulties and even life threatening situations,” the minister said.

Colonel Saumatua said Government was already working towards the relocation of two of the coastal villages because of sea-level rise and coastal erosion.

“We need to look at education for awareness and the future generation and secondly a need for action to remedy the environmental damage already done,” he said.

The minister encouraged participants to focus on the outcomes of the summit that will pave the way forward in addressing climate change and how the various organizations could draw up mitigation and adaptation plans to tackle climate change.

-ENDS-

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She is currently doing her Masters of Science major in Environmental Science at the University of the South Pacific.

A teacher by profession, she was a lecturer in Marine Environmental Science at Fiji Institute of Technology now Fiji National University. She also taught in secondary school at Queen Victoria School and Adi Cakobau School respectively.

Marica is from Nadoria village in Rewa.   Please give her a warm welcome when you see her.

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