The iTaukei Affairs Board through its Conservation Unit is involved in conservation efforts as part of our local resource management initiatives.
The Board recognises the importance of integrating local knowledge with modern conservation practices for mangrove management.
ITaukei communities have traditional ways of knowing and managing mangroves for ecosystem based management in which the Conservation Unit integrates into their programs.
The Board has dedicated provincial conservation officers positioned across the 14 provinces in Fiji who serve as the operational interface between the Board and various stakeholders.
These officers’ work directly with iTaukei communities on locally managed areas or Tabu sites for resource conservation which includes mangrove ecosystems.
The Board recognises the importance of working with traditional governance structures to complement Government’s efforts.
The Yaubula committees function as the primary decision- making body for natural resource management at the community level. This includes mangrove ecosystems within their traditional territories.
They provide a formal structure through which iTaukei communities can exercise their customary rights and responsibilities over coastal resources.
Mangrove restoration activities in Fiji involves various stakeholders and the Board acknowledges the importance of stakeholder collaboration, while ensuring that iTaukei communities maintain their traditional stewardship rights and responsibilities over mangrove resources.
With a collective ownership of more than 80 per cent of Fiji’s natural resources the iTaukei communities are unequally placed at the center of national commitment towards sustainable development.
This positions them as crucial stakeholders in mangrove conservation efforts therefore the Board serves as the critical link between government policy, international support and community –level implementation of mangrove conservation initiatives.
With a collective ownership of more than 80 per cent of Fiji’s natural resources the iTaukei communities are unequally placed at the center of national commitment towards sustainable development.
