The project that VEPA has taken on is a much larger project than before under the Integrated Water Coastal Management Program supported by GEF, Aus Aid, SPC and Tongan Government.
Through this project there will be various activities, workshops and conservation efforts involved to propagate 200 mangroves in community initiated areas. A main area of focus for this project is the adaptation to climate change effects. Already the islands are seeing seasonal and regional changes that overtime are causing hardships to coastal lying communities.
Mangroves are an important shoreline tree that helps reduce the impacts of climate change by protecting the shorelines from heavy seas and storms whilst at the same time reducing sediments that flow from the land to the sea with the heavy rains from eroded areas. Mangroves prevent this sediment from reaching the coral reefs that lay close to the shoreline in Vava'u.Confirmed so far is the "Old Harbour" of Neiafu Tahi, which leads on to the access of the Eastern Islands and is used by local fishermen as a path way to the fishing grounds and women's groups for harvesting invertebrates at low tide.
There is currently some small regeneration naturally occurring of mangrove species within the old Harbour area, many of the seedlings that manage to root are disturbed by the pigs rummaging for shellfish at low tide. For this reason the mangroves that will be planted under the project will be protected by fencing that still allows for tidal flow but keeps the pigs away.
The old harbour also faces in to the trade winds during the period of May till October, though recently the trade winds have not been as consistent, methods of growing mangroves will reflect the windier coastal area. The growing methods will include protecting the mangrove seedlings from being disturbed by the winds and waves. This is a valuable project to be able to monitor and evaluate the effects of a different site in relation to the mangroves growing and will provide data for future projects on success and issues that occur.
Another valuable part of this project is the collaboration with the communities and the establishments of Environmental Ambassadors within the community. The role of the Environmental Ambassador is to work alongside the Project Manager in community development and ownership of the project. Training for the Environmental Ambassador is given through out the project on surveying mangroves, sustainable use methods, rehabilitation process and outreach programs.
The local schools will be involved alongside the community in the mangrove regeneration sites and will grow their own mangroves in water bottles to see the development of the seedlings. The water bottles are topped up with salt water each day to replicate the natural changes of tidal flow on the coastal area.
The project is in its 2nd quarter of running and in later this month the first regeneration site will be planted, there is lots more information to come so stay tuned for updates as the project runs.
