Community
Our community partners
This project has been developed in response to the specific aims of our partners to support and expand community stewardship of the reefs by increasing resource user knowledge and understanding of coral reef ecosystems, thereby allowing local people to become more involved in the protection and sustainable use of their marine resources.
Our marine conservation project has been developed with the permission of the local community of Dawasamu District and with the assistance of FLMMA and the Department of Fisheries. We are also developing new eco-tourism projects in the region that will hopefully attract the UK and USA tourism market and create employment opportunities for the local community.
Taione Delai, from the South pacific Projects team, is always on hand to liaise with the community and the Dawasamu Environment Movement to ensure that we always follow the correct protocols and show respect to the community.
‘Kava’ plays an important role in Fijian culture and the ‘sevusevu’ ceremony provides a fascinating insight into village etiquette. After the kava has been pounded by hand, it is mixed with water and then offered to the Chief or most prominent member of the community in a polished coconut shell, then it is passed between the visitors until it is finished.
Our community relationships are one of the most import facets of this project, without the communities backing our project, there would be little reason for our presence in Fiji or for the conservation and educational work that we carry out.
The people of Dawasamu District fully utilise the resources of the adjacent marine and terrestrial environments. There are some of the most important tracts of old growth forest, as well as sustainably farmed Pine, in the mountainous environment of Dawasamu
There are also some small farms that sell their crops and meat products in the local markets of Korovo and Nausori towns. By working in partnership with the community of Dawasamu, we are able to liaise directly with the people that deal directly with all the current environment issues while following the correct and respectful protocol regarding all community interaction.
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