A successful pilot project that's helped restore marine biodiversity and the declining ecosystems in a Tongan lagoon will be used in 14 other Pacific countries.
The 3-year Ridge to Reef project is restoring the Fanga'uta Lagoon catchment, which borders the capital, Nuku'alofa.
The lagoon's once rich diversity has been destroyed over the years by climate change, poor sustainable management and waste dumping.
Project Manager Ta'hirih Fifita Hokafonu says building partnerships with the lagoon's 26 surrounding villages has been key.
Transcript
TA'HIRIH FIFITA HOKAFONU: We have identified several villages of hotspot areas where we have implemented now intervention of mangrove rehabilitation. We have established recently a trial eco-tourism site, we've completed four sites of mangrove rehabilitation and one site with mangrove nursery. We've also recently become a systematic check of water quality monitoring on 30 sites in the marine water and 76 on land. And built capacity of the local people, that when the project does pass on the transfer of knowledge is sustained by community members or national officers.
INDIRA STEWART: Are there any systems in place for limiting fishing in the Fanga'uta area?
TFH: Mainly the lagoon is a sustainable fishery area and this is not for commercial use and the use of illegal fishing is forbidden in the marine protected area. But again, the monitoring of such fishing method is an area that we still have yet to improve further on. But this is checked periodically by fisheries when they do (?) survey or visit landing side of fisheries to see how life is and the amount of fishes they bring out from the Fanga'uta lagoon.
IS: What do you think other Pacific countries can learn from Tonga's pilot Ridge to Reef project?
TFH: From the sharing the bits with Nauru, I guess for me, the biggest learning tool that I shared with them was the importance of positive relationship building is key and through the almost two years now of the project, we continue to refine this element - how to always ensure that the relationship builds so that we have complete support and assistance from all groups. We have to ensure that what we present to the stakeholders are - we're being upfront about it. We're being transparent about it. And if it doesn't really fit their mandate, we find what are the common grounds of assistance. So, I think the biggest learning to offer them is to ensure that whatever work that we do, our relationship building is key in ensuring success if moving forward.
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.
