The Mamanuca Environment Society (MES) is working on a new program to revitalize local communities’ engagement into conserving the beautiful Mamanuca Group of Islands.
MES new Project Manager Marica Vakacola said MES vision was to promote awareness at community level. But due to the high demand from resort and the small team in office, the community program was mainly carried out when the volunteers are available.
And in a move to ensure participation of landowners, MES teamed up with Ahura Resorts for a cleanup campaign at Yaro village on Wednesday December 18.
“Community engagement is a must for conservation. The cleanup is the start of a journey to ensure that the landowners in the Mamanuca Region contribute to the idea of protecting the stunning marine and terrestrial environment of the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji.
“For so long our focus was for the resorts and the staff while the local communities only engage in big projects. It is about time that we take the message to their home to make sure that their villages are clean and they know how to dispose their waste. It will be no use if the resorts are following the standard procedure when the villages still don’t know how to dispose their waste,” said Mrs Vakacola.
The cleanup started on early morning with the assistance of Vilimoni Naitau the Duty Manager for Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Yaro Village headman Joseva Soqeta.
Students who were in the village for the school break were also involved under the supervision of the Mamanuca Environment Society staff and volunteers, mainly tertiary students who were on semester break.
According to Mr Soqeta, most of the waste they collected was from renovation work done after the Cyclone Evan last year.
“The organized cleanup campaign was timely for the village as the children were on school break and as we prepare also for Christmas .It is important because tourists from the nearby resorts come in for village tour-providing an alternative source of income from the sale of souvenirs and ornaments” said Mr. Soqeta.
Mrs. Vakacola said management of solid waste is one of the biggest challenges that need to be addressed as it can have detrimental impact on the health of the community and the environment.
“The campaign was a success as there was overwhelming support from their two member resorts, Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Yaro villagers. We will continue this cleanup campaign and community awareness program in promoting the importance of proper waste management for better health, and conservation of biodiversity.
“We have plan in continuing this community engagement in partnership with member resorts for other villages in the Malolo District, Solevu, Tavua and Yanuya. Our next stop is Yarolevu, a village settlement in Mana Island next week.
“The Society wishes to thank the Ahura Resorts for providing the transfers, garbage bags and lunch packs for the team. They also provided bins for the village rubbish before they were transported to mainland in the barge,” added Mrs Vakacola.
