Mitigating the impact of climate change

THOUSANDS of iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) tenants are affected daily by the changing weather patterns which are normally caused by cyclones, severe floods and prolonged droughts to name a few.

TLTB general manager Mr Tevita Kuruvakadua said that this was common in all different lease types from residential to agriculture, and from industries to tourism leases and TLTB had taken a keen interest with its tenants to address the impact of climate change.

“For itaukei leases that are affected by the rising sea level, tenants are taking measures to safeguard land loss from erosion, floods and inundations. Mostly affected are the tourism leases where major resorts are located such as Mana Island Resort & Spa, Double Tree Resort (Sonaisali Island) and Denarau Island who are protecting their beach fronts with rocks and boulders – which is changing the landscape of these resorts,” he added.

Mr Kuruvakadua said that tenants living along the coast or river banks were also taking steps to protect their leases and properties, by putting up barricades or simply moving to a safer site as an adaptation measure, while some were seeking government assistance directly.

Mr Kuruvakadua said that TLTB took into account the Government’s commitment in the global arena to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate or adapt to climate change impacts.

“This is in full support of the advocacy by the President of the COP 23 who happens to be our Prime minister, Minister of iTaukei Affairs and Chairman of the TLTB Board of Trustees,” he said.

“As an organization, we will continue to focus on the relocation of affected villages, building of sea walls, supporting development initiatives and programs that are deviating from diesel fuel to clean energy through the facilitation of hydro projects, solar and wind power programs, enforcing good husbandry and sustainable land and forest management practices,” he added.

TLTB is also engaging with landowners, government, development partners including NGO’s, in embedding its carbon foot print in biodiversity, environment conservations, carbon sequestrations and other climate change mitigation programmes around the country. In partnership with the National Trust of Fiji and Conservation International, we have the largest conservation lease in Fiji in the interior of Viti Levu called Sovi Basin. The recent Kilaka Forest is now active with the partnership of the World Conservation Society (WCS). With the Forestry Department we have forest and nature reserve at Wabu around Mount Victoria, Taveuni Forest Reserve and Coloisuva Forest Park. The National Trust of Fiji is also our lessee for the Waisali Nature Reserve at Wailevu East, Cakaudrove.

To enhance Fiji carbon sequestration TLTB has been instrumental in the National REDD+ Steering Committee and its programs especially in consultation with landowners, capacity building programmes, the readiness phase and has now finalising the first REDD+ lease in Fiji with the Government under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) carbon credits mechanism. Another REDD+ lease was processed to landowner’s cooperative in partnership with the Live & Learn Environmental Education for the Drawa Block (Macuata) that can be traded in the open market.

On water quality protections, TLTB has issued several water catchment leases to government through Director of Lands and Water Authority of Fiji at Savura (Coloisuva), Vunidawa, Tailevu North, Buabua and Saru in Lautoka), and Vaturu in Nadi with few more in process at Biuasevu in Nadroga and Naseyani in Ra.

Under our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, every year our employees are engaged in planting trees and mangroves in Suva, Lami, Sigatoka, Nadi, Ra, Lautoka, Tailevu, Macuata and Naitasiri, including the cleaning of waterfront along our various coastal areas.