Building of Resilient Communities in Ra , Fiji

On behalf of the local residents of Nakarotubu District on the coast of Ra Province, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to GlobalGiving Donors for your generous support to our project.

Several years of working at grassroots, we felt the need to improve awareness and demonstrate long-term benefits of conservation actions and sustainable management of natural resources among the local villagers. The local communities` preference for short-term financial gains over long-term economic and environmental benefits drives them to engage in illegal and unsustainable harvesting of resources, such as cutting of mangrove trees for firewood.

As we adopt the concept of learning-by-doing, we are addressing this problem by putting the locals at the core of conservation, protection, and rehabilitation. On September 18, 2018, we organized a dialogue session with the locals of Nakarotubu District, particularly the women to encourage their active participation into our Coastal Management Project. After the session, the participants joined in the mangrove planting activities to replace the once uprooted and damaged by the strong waves.

Meanwhile, we are working with the village leaders in strengthening law enforcement to help reduce, control, and manage direct pressures on the environment, particularly the mangrove forests. Somehow, with these efforts, it would contribute to the reduction and vulnerability of the villagers from natural disasters.

We would be grateful for outside support, in any forms for us to realize our goals.