Introducing Meredith...

Meredith on the right with Lisa.

My name is Meredith Tufunga.

I’m 19 years old.

My parent is Suvenia and ‘Amusia Tufunga.

My favourite subject is Biology and Computer. 

My favourite colour is green.

I come from Olo’ua Island and I stay at Kameli.

I have ten members in my family. There are three boys and seven girls.

I was study at Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College for 5 years at end up at Vava’u High School for 3 years.

I’m very glad to take this time so I can share how happy I are when I became VEPA members. When I get the job I’m very happy because it can help me by increase my knowledge not only that but I know that I can fulfil my dream. Most of the time I always dream that one day I can do something so I can help to make our environment clean and not only the clean and green but also to stop the pollution that occur in our environment. So now I join VEPA so i can work together with the VEPA to protect our environment because I know that today problem in our environment can produce a huge concern for us in the future. 

So I think it’s time for us TONGA to stand up and work together for a BETTER ENVIRONMENT in the future. So the REEF OF TODAY IS THE ISLAND FOR TOMORROW. 

Meredith joins in the awareness program with Lisa, Moala and Ofa.

Introducing Kelsey and Alec

Malo e lelei!

Introducing Kelsey and Alec! We are two Canadians studying Interdisciplinary Leadership at the University of New Brunswick’s Renaissance College. For the next ten weeks we have the pleasure of volunteering with VEPA! 

Kelsey grew up surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the natural beauty of the most Eastern island in Canada, Newfoundland, and is very excited to learn more about the environment and culture on an island on the other side of the globe.  Hailing from Alberta and New Brunswick, Alec is the president of an NGO in Canada and is thrilled to be learning about VEPA’s methods for community engagement. We are both already in awe of the natural beauty of the Vava’u landscape and are honoured to have the privilege of working towards its preservation with such a dedicated team. 

Our first week at VEPA has been fantastic, and has allowed us to orient ourselves to the work that is being done here. Over the course of the next ten weeks, we will be assisting with a number of VEPA’s initiatives, so expect a few more updates from us! Some of the things we have already done include going to schools with the education team for their presentations on Oceans and Reefs, learning about the environmental legislation in Tonga, and helping with the Integrated Water and Coastal Management Project, which aims to create a better understanding of - and identify means to preserve - the Vava’u coastal environment. It’s clear that VEPA is deeply respected and has built strong working relationships since its formation in 2009. 

An integral part of our time so far has also been experiencing the Tongan culture. We are both staying in the village of Vaipua with Tongan families who have welcomed us into their homes. We can attest to the renowned friendliness of “The Friendly Islands,” having immediately felt right at home in our new environment. Some things we have experienced in our first week include eating copious amounts of “ifo” (delicious) Tongan food prepared by our families, cooking pizza for a church conference feast (which we then attended), learning to speak Tongan, and enjoying the island pace of life (commonly referred to as Tonga Time). Kelsey had the opportunity to travel to the outer island of Taunga for Mother’s Day celebrations where she learned to make kahoa loles (candy necklaces). We have both enjoyed learning about the rich history and traditions of the island and are looking forward to discovering more. 

Expect to hear more from us in the next few weeks as we keep you up to date with the goings on of VEPA.

Cheers,

Kelsey and Alec

Feeling hot hot hot

and yes not just us humans, but again our corals are under thermal stress  with hot ocean water temperatures over a prolonged period of time. Other environmental issues that can cause coral bleaching is run off and pollution, extreme low tides which can cause an excessive amount of sunlight on the corals.

Just last week on a survey we noticed corals paling and bleaching in shallow waters on the reef flats and following on from the bleaching event recorded in February through April 2014, we are again watching closely.

Firstly lets just talk about the basics of coral reef formations and corals themselves:

Corals are made up from rock (limestone) which forms the skeleton and attachment for the coral, plant (zooxanthellae) that gives corals there colour as well as photosynthesizing and producing oxygen. The zooxanthellae and the polyp have a mutualistic relationship each providing benefits to the other.

The  animal is a polyp that has tiny tentacles that extend out and catch passing particles which feed the coral. There can be thousands of small polyps on a single coral head and millions spread over a coral reef area.

Anatomy of a coral polyp © Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Coral reefs provide many functions or services to people including food, enjoyment and recreation and protection from climatic events such as storms, tsunamis and waves. If a coral reef is not healthy and in balance these services can be affected. Keeping coral reefs healthy through managing fishing, reducing anchoring and pollution are some of the ways to keep our ecosystems in balance.



So what is bleaching?

This coral bleaching infographic by NOAA provides great simple information on the causes and impacts of bleaching.

When oceans temperatures exceed the normal threshold for corals (between 23C and 29C) and maintain that heat for a period of time, corals will start to drop the zooxanthellae, the corals begin to look very bright in colour, this is known as paling. If the temperatures remain high, the coral then may further bleach turning itself bright white. At this stage corals still may recover if water temperatures reduce quickly and the algae returns.

If the corals remain bleached and the water temperatures remain high, coral mortality may become an issue. Once a coral has completely bleached it is at risk of no longer providing food or habitat for marine animals as well as protection for shorelines from storms and large waves.

Those bright hot red spots are all around the waters of Tonga at the moment.

Chart showing possible bleaching stress between February and May 2015.

How can you help?

VEPA is a supporter of the CoralWatch program which can be used by divers and snorkelers to easily monitor changes in reef colour. Its free to do and we will input the data, so please if you would like to join in pop by the VEPA office located at the bottom of the Guttenbeil Plaza.

VEPA Environmental Awareness Program - Jan 2015

So welcome back from Hainite, Lisa and Moala:

The Community Awareness Team -
Lisa, Hainite, and Moala

The Community Awareness Team now all in green!

We’ve had a great break and are back in our ta‘ovala’s

Ready to take-on twenty fifteen!

 



Presenting to all the GPS teacher's at Vava'u High

To kick off the new year with excitement

We went to the government high school

And told the teachers about the environment,

Which they said they thought was pretty cool.

 

Our team are now getting gee-d up

To teach everyone about our mangroves,

We’ve written a kids book, the schools are tee-d up,

And the replanting has begun, way to go!



Red Mangrove seedling

 

Something else we have to look forward to:

A Whale Competition for you to tell your tales

About what they mean to Tonga, to me, and to you,

And the prize? Winners will spend a day with the whales!





New office opening - Karen and Kate

Next step is to spruce up the new office

With interesting posters and pictures to peek at

If you haven’t found us we’re near the Dancing Roosters,

Come on by when you can and meet us!