NANISE NEIMILA
Villagers of Viro in Ovalau are thankful to the Fijian Government for their assistance towards addressing the effects of climate change that continues to affect their coastal community.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, while commissioning the new hybrid seawall recently, said that this initiative is an important step forward in Government’s efforts to keep all Fijians safe from the terrible potential effects of climate change particularly sea-level rise.
“This new hybrid seawall that we are commissioning today represents more than just an attempt to keep the ocean from encroaching on the lands that is so important to this village. It also represents hope to the residents of so many villages in Fiji that need protection particularly on the outer islands.”
“To build this seawall, the Ministry of Waterways and Environment used an ingenious combination of human-made and nature-based solutions to provide protection that is more effective and less expensive than a concrete wall.”
PM Bainimarama said the wall is made of boulders that were acquired from nearby, which reduced construction costs, and the mangroves planted in front of the wall and vetiver planted behind the wall provide extra protection for their ability to absorb and contain tidal flows.
“The mangroves are the first line of defense, as they have always been in Fiji, and the vetiver is the last line.”
“The mangroves will calm the action of the waves, but the mangrove ecosystem will also be an important local source of food. Mangroves take carbon out of the air, protect coral reefs by holding in soil, and are home to shellfish and other marine life.”
PM Bainimarama adds the vetiver forms a strong hedge, its deep roots hold in the soil, and it can thrive even in soil that has been inundated by seawater.
“Our need to protect coastal communities is urgent, and so we will continue to pursue nature based solutions either alone or in combination with man-made structures. This is the way we will pick up the pace to reach more communities more quickly and with solutions that have multiple benefits.”
This project was completed in just four months, and PM Bainimarama was pleased to note that it arose from a Talanoa session that the people of Viro held with the Minister for Waterways and Environment. “The people spoke, and the Government responded quickly and with the right solution.”
“Since 2014, we have undertaken eight coastal protection projects at a cost of more than $5million. In the process, we protected more than 2,000 metres of vulnerable coastal areas. But those projects were primarily conventional reinforced concrete seawalls,” PM Bainimarama said. This project is different, and with reduced costs and greater efficiency of these hybrid projects that use nature-based solutions, more will be done with less. Viro village headman Filipe Ledua thanked the Fijian government for their intervention towards the construction of the seawall.