'Mangroves for a Sustainable Green Environment at Maiana' August 2020

August 19 2020: A team of four officers from the Environment and Conservation Division have spent five days on Maiana Island (31 July to 5 August) to assess a mangrove competition and to mobilise youth in picking and planting.

The mangrove planting activity extended a competition initiated last November, the assessment of which was based on criteria developed by a local organising committee.

A sense of community ownership and unity was demonstrated by participating villages, as indicated by the healthy growth of their mangrove plots which had received regular monitoring and safeguarding against waste, pests and human disturbance.

While on the island, the team also advanced a National Youth Commemoration program held every first week of August, including mangrove picking and planting.

A total 42 youth representatives camped at Te Ingungu n Tabwakea Maneaba, Tebwangetua. At the end of the day, 2,483 mangrove seedlings were picked, with the team providing small prizes to those who picked the most.

Along with village representatives, the team also planted over 5,000 mangroves at Bubutei. In addition, the team conducted its own picking and planting to conclude their camp program.

More than 4,000 mangroves were also planted at ‘Tekawanawana’ site near Tebwangetua.

The Mayor commented that the activities left a huge impact on the young participants, many of whom had never engaged in mangroves planting, and instilled in them a fuller understanding of the value of sustaining a green and blue environment.

Mr Moiawa, an officer for the Environment and Conservation Division, stated that with this activity, the probability of marine resources will be increased in the coming years.

One of the elderly participants said that activity would encourage locals to engage in voluntary activities for a green and sustainable environment.

In total, more than 10,000 mangroves planted in total on the island. This is one of the Environment and Conservation Division’s targets under the project ‘Enhancing Food Security in the Context of Global Climate Change’ (commonly known as the ‘LDCF Project’): to increase mangrove coverage and habitat at the project pilot islands of Maiana, Abemama and Nonouti.

The team will revisit the island at a later date for a prize giving for the winners of the competition.

The trip was funded by the ‘LDCF Project’ which is supported by the Global Environment Facility-Least Developed Countries Fund and UN Development Programme, and executed through the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development.

For more information, please contact Teitirake Teanoa, Project Communication Officer, t.teanoa@melad.gov.ki

To learn more about the project and it’s activities, follow @KiribatiLDCF on Twitter and @ldcffoodsecurity on Instagram.