Nacula District in the Yasawa Islands is strengthening partnerships with conservation groups and the Government, as new observations suggest the community’s coral reefs are rapidly losing their health.
District representative and Indigenous Knowledge Climate Champion Lavenia Naivalu said the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) had been instrumental in supporting their response as environmental pressures on the reef continue to escalate.
“Coral reefs are the backbone of my island community,” she said.
“We go fishing almost every day for food, to sell for income and also for our cultural identity.”
She said recent scientific findings on climate tipping points mirror what her community was experiencing firsthand.
“Rising sea temperatures driven by climate change are causing widespread coral bleaching, threatening the survival of these ecosystems and my community that depends on them.”
But climate change is only one part of the challenge.
Ms Naivalu said illegal and unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, particularly plastics and the impacts of high tourist activity were intensifying reef degradation.
“These cumulative impacts make urgent action to safeguard our reef systems non-negotiable.”
To respond, the district has adopted an integrated, community-led approach.
With WWF’s support, Nacula has developed a District Sustainable Development Plan, which outlines strategies to protect and restore coral reefs, fisheries, mangroves, and other natural resources.
“These measures are also embedded in the district’s Village Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan, ensuring environmental protection is tied directly to climate resilience and long-term economic security.
“We also have a partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, which is restoring damaged reefs by replanting resilient coral species.
“Collaboration with the tourism sector has also led to the creation of Coral Gardens aimed at supporting reef recovery.”
Ms Naivalu the district was finalising a Nacula District Trust Fund, which would provide sustainable financing for community-led ocean and climate initiatives.
She said these efforts were crucial to ensuring the district’s ecosystems remain the foundation for its well-being.
“Protect all of these natural ecosystems and resources to ensure that our foundation for sustainable development, for economic security, for climate resilience, for adaptation and for our well-being is strong and this will allow us to thrive.”
