AT least 28 villagers from the Western Division are participating in a magimagi (sinnet made from coconut fibre) weaving workshop at Nailaga Village, Ba.
The training, organised by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pacific through the Pacific American Climate Fund, is a two-week event.
According to WWF Pacific’s climate change adaptation field officer, Apolosa Robaigau, the program was about capacity-building, strengthening adaptation and building resilience of communities.
Participants are learning to make sustainable coir logs using magimagi. Coir logs are a sustainable form of erosion control measures that are installed along river banks, hills, shorelines and other erosion prone areas.
“Part of the project is about coastal and river bank rehabilitation,” Mr Robaigau said.
“We know it’s expensive to build sea walls, so we opt for cost-effective, sustainable measures and using our own resources and the skills we have with us from Fijian history.”
He said magimagi was a great alternative to expensive building materials.
“We plait it into a log and pile on riverbanks. We did this for Nacula district in Yasawa about two weeks ago.”
So far, Nailaga and Nacula are the only two areas to benefit from this project.
The training ends next week.
