Kubulau bears fruit of vision : FijiSun

 

The district of Kubulau is taking the lead in managing its marine resources, by putting together a management plan administered by a management committee selected by the communities and trained by NGO’s who are conducting work in the district.

This was heard at the St Agnes Parish Community Hall in Samabula East on Friday evening as representatives from environmental NGO’s involved in projects in Kubulau presented to the people of Kubulau living in Suva an update of what was happening back home.

The open–forum, which for the first time saw the chiefs from the district coming down to Suva as part of this contingent, proved to be an eye opener for many Kubulau natives living in the Central and Southern division of Viti Levu.

The Namena Marine Protected Areas and other MPA’s around Kubulau is today been used as a model for other qoliqoli owners from other districts around Fiji.

NGOs who are currently based and conducting projects in Kubulau now for a number of years include the Coral Alliance, SeaWeb, Wildlife Conservation Society and Partners in Community Development Fiji.

Groups such as the WWF, FLEMMA, USP Marine science department have also conducted surveys and projects in the area

The sitting also heard that through the various projects a scholarship fund was set up by way of diverting a cut from funds paid by tourists to dive in Namena MPA which has reached $65,000 in the past five years since its inception.

This says Paulo Kolikata, a native of Namalata Village and also a member of the group spearheading works with the NGOs, has been perhaps the pride of Kubulau’s education scheme because at first there was nothing and now there is something.

Many students of Kubulau heve since benefitted from the fund. Kubulau district includes the villages of Kiobo, Namalata, Raviravi, Navatu, Waisa, Nasaivua, Natokalau, Nakorovou, Nadivakarua, Nakorovou and Kilaka.

Coral Alliance Fiji site manager Heidi Williams stated that their work in the past five years has made ground because of the cooperation of the people of Kubulau beginning from the village elders and chiefs.

“Our projects are designed in a way that it suits the situation and lives of people concerned, so at the end we are just here to guide you along the way, the final decisions about your resources should come from you the resource owners.”

“Basically its about teaching people how to manage their reef resources and marine environment.”

WCS director Stacy Jupiter also informed the people that Kubulau is now at a stage where the locals have been trained to be able to go out slowly and teach people themselves.

“That is perhaps the next stage for us, we would like to begin pulling out slowly and let those who have been trained by us to now help their own kin map their way forward in terms of managing your resources.

“Kubulau has a rich ecosystem, our job is to help you understand it and how to manage it so that it is sustainable and at the same time earn an income for the people without affecting the surroundings too much.

“And so what we are working at this moment is a ‘train the trainers’ concept so soon people from Kubulau will go to other districts or communities and teach people how to look after the natural resources, manage it so it can earn an income for them,’’ Stacy added.

PCDF representatives also confirmed at the meeting that by end of 2010 they estimate to have invested over $300,000 since they began work in the district over 5 years.a

The group also included Nadivakarua native, Sirilo “Didi” Dulunaqio who is the Fiji Field representative for Coral Alliance and WCS. Didi as he is referred to helped by laying the ground works with the chiefs and communities of Kubulau in the creation of the Namena Marine Reserve in 1997.

Coral funded a trip in 2001 to Bahamas where Didi got his credentials on marine protection and sustainable financing.

He pleaded with the people at the sitting that it was time they paid attention to what was happening back home because the NGO representatives have lived on site and endured all conditions, challenges and still have helped lay the ground work to ensure their children benefit in future.

“It is not easy, but they are here and are committed, I hope you will also be committed to this because it is for you and your future generation, I talk like this because I am from Kubulau.”

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