IWCM Mangrove Rehabilitation Project for Climate Change Adaptation Update

Planting mangroves for climate change adaptation.

Living in the islands of Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga, we are surrounded by ocean, coral reefs and fragile coastline that are susceptible to the threats of global climate change. In Vava’u alone, there are higher tides, stronger storms, winter weather in summer and summer weather in winter. The islands are seeing changes both visibly and economically associated with climate change.

Working for the IWCM Coastal Management Project, VEPA is responsible for a mangrove rehabilitation project for climate change adaptation. Sponsored by AusAid and SOPAC, this project looks into mitigating and adapting to climate change through community development. The first site we are working at is Neiafu Tahi, located on the main island of Vava’u Lahi, and a critical community area. The “Old Harbour” as it is known locally, is a small harbor for local fishing vessels, a fishing ground for the women collecting mollusks for food and a home for over 300 people directly.

The area is seeing the impacts of climate change with higher seas washing over the sea wall, storm surges and soil erosion. Our part of the project is to show how mangroves can be used as a reducing species of climate change. Mangroves all over the tropics are vital for many uses in community development.  Here in Vava’u, they provide shoreline protection from winds and waves, reduce sediments and pollutants flowing from the land to the sea and on to the coral reefs. In some areas, the mangroves are very healthy, in other areas they have been depleted due to coastal developments.

Fence to protect seedlings from pigs © Karen Stone 2013

To work alongside the community with different ways to improve on the health of the coastal areas is vital for a sustainable future.  The mangroves being planted are a pilot project to showcase mangroves as a tool for climate change adaptation. The initial plot has 100 mangrove seedlings planted with a further plot coming in later December. The community helped to build the fence, essential in Vava’u to protect the seedlings from roaming pigs that search for mollusks at low tide.

Fence Building team © Karen Stone 2013

Community members from Neiafu Tahi, APTC alumni students and kids all helped plant the mangrove seedlings after they were propagated in water bottles by school kids from Liviela Government Primary School.

APTC Alumni students © Ashlee Jones 2013

An Environmental Ambassador, Lisa Tongamoa, from Neiafu Tahi, works for the project developing community support and initiatives to create ownership of their resources.

Lisa Tongamoa, Environmental Ambassador © Karen Stone 2013

It is hoped that more mangroves will be grown as an adaptation to climate change,  a workshop on sustainable harvesting of mangroves for cultural uses including dyes for mats will be happening in the New Year and further studies carried out on the impacts of climate change on the coastal area.

A huge thank you to the team and community for their efforts and support.

Some camera time © Ashlee Jones 2013

Discussing logistics © Ashlee Jones 2013

Salia back in the mangroves © Ashlee Jones 2013

Happy helpers © Karen Stone 2013

Planting mangroves Neiafu Tahi

Back in the Mangroves

which as you may well know from the blogs is one of my most favourite places to be! There is just something so amazing about mangroves, their ecology, biological influences and importance to ecosystems and communities that surround the waters edge.

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.

Santa Came Early for VEPA this year

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog for VEPA.  We have been so active over the last couple of months with the lovely international volunteer Vicky managing the coral reef nursery out at Matamaka (sad to see her go), the Nature Explorers Club, Karen and Kate rescuing turtles and running workshops for the board.  

The new year will be a busy time for VEPA as in the last month we have successfully been awarded not one but TWO grant applications, and an unofficial acceptance on another.  In addition to this The Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Program has been awarded the Prince Bernhard Nature Fund, which will supply funding to purchase a vehicle, rent for an office space and office equipment. 

The excitement started when we found out VEPA was successful in getting funding for a joint composing project with the Women’s Division in the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Forestry and Farming (MAFF).  The New Zealand High Commission has kindly funded this project and we will start building the compost at the MAFFF farm in January 2013.   Following the construction of the compost a series of composting workshops will be held for the women’s groups of Vava’u.  We will show them a variety of easy low cost compost types, which will not only improve soil quality but also reduce the amount of green waste being burnt. 

In the village of Toula the Australian High Commission will be funding a waste management and recycling project.  Two recycling stations will be set up where residents can separate their plastic, aluminium cans, steel cans and glass.  These cages will be collected once they are full and taken to GIO Recycling.  VEPA will be assisting Toula to plan, implement and monitor the project.

Lastly, but arguably the most exciting, it looks like VEPA will get funding to employ a part time project manager and run a year long project on sustainable mangrove management.   We will keep you updated when the official agreement has been signed.  

The new year will also bring a new office space.  We are currently looking at a cosy little space, ideally located in the centre of town with a ‘terrible’ view of the beautiful Neiafu Harbour.   This space will be shared with Kate, who manages the Vava’u Turtle Monitoring Program.

I hope all the VEPA followers have a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to updating you on VEPA’s activities in 2013.

Ofa atu

Elana

2012 Calender of Projects

2012 is going to be a busy year for VEPA, continuing on is our Waste Management and Recycling Project which is going into Year 2 of our 5 Year Plan. Our efforts on the IWRM Water as a Resource Project will be getting lots of attention in the coming months with media efforts and children's school books that are awaiting printing.

We will be reviewing the Mangrove Assessment and seeing how we can improve and reduce the removal of mangroves that has occurred in the last month.

Adding 3 new projects this year for Soil Erosion, Turtle Monitoring and Protection of Nesting Sites, and turning our attention to Coral Reefs. A good mix of land and marine projects.

Again we would appreciate any help or funding opportunities that are available, so please look out for lots of information that is coming and how you can be involved.