Vava u mangroves surveyed

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Vava u mangroves surveyed"

Briana Gray
5 years ago
Views:

this issue Vava u mangroves surveyed Twenty species and counting Native gecko spotted On the ground Tangled Vava u mangroves surveyed With the aim to use GIS as a measure

Change and Natural Resources (MECC) and Vava u Environment Protection Agency (VEMA).

assess the health and conditions of the mangrove ecosystems that occurred within the island and its effects towards the impacts of human development.

and software along with GPS tools for communication. Vava u, renowned for its whale watching attractions, is the second largest island in Tonga.

1 this issue Vava u mangroves surveyed Twenty species and counting Native gecko spotted On the ground Tangled Vava u mangroves surveyed With the aim to use GIS as a measure of deriving baseline information on the status and condition of mangroves in Tonga, a survey was conducted on Vava u island from 24th 28th September Led by consultant Mr. Paul Anderson of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the team consisted of MESCAL Tonga project, Ministry of Lands Environment Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECC) and Vava u Environment Protection Agency (VEMA). Covering seven villages in Vava u, the overall objective for the MESCAL Tonga NCC Sione tagging the mangroves for the next monitoring program MESCAL Tonga survey was to assess the health and conditions of the mangrove ecosystems that occurred within the island and its effects towards the impacts of human development. This also gave an opportunity to train officials and volunteers on mangrove monitoring methodology using the Pacific Mangrove Monitoring Manual, Quantum GIS application and software along with GPS tools for communication. Vava u, renowned for its whale watching attractions, is the second largest island in Tonga. According to a report published by MECC this year, the total area of mangroves recorded for Tongatapu, the largest island in Tonga, was 1,450 hectares. Va vau on the other hand records 381 hectares of mangrove cover bringing the current total area of known mangroves for Tonga to 1,831 hectares. Consequently, 21% of Tonga s known mangrove species can be found on Vava u. Survey team wading through the waters to reach one of the sites MESCAL Tonga Continued page 2 1 P a g e

2 from page 1 The survey team recorded two mangrove species at Koloa, Vava u which was previously recorded in Tongatapu late April this year. The two mangrove species that were found were Pemphis acidula and the hybrid Rhizophora x selala. This is a remarkable sighting because now we know these two species occur outside the boundaries of Tongatapu island where it was recently found, MESCAL Tonga Project Coordinator Mr. Sione Tukia explained. When comparing the health of mangroves in Tongatapu with the mangroves in Vava u, the team found that Vava u Island s mangroves were in good condition. Impacts of human development on Vava u mangroves were less significant when compared to the mangroves in Nukualofa, Tukia continued. Survey team with team leader Paul Anderson (centre) recording the GPS points MESCAL Tonga Despite the usual impacts, of cutting, burning and waste, the mangroves were generally in good condition, meaning the mangroves are resilient and healthy in most cases, Team Leader and SPREP s Marine Conservation Analyst Mr. Paul Anderson said. On April 18th this year, SPREP in partnership with IUCN Oceania signed a letter of agreement to ensure the GIS mapping components for MESCAL Tonga were effectively implemented. The MESCAL project is the first major project to be implemented by IUCN Oceania under the emerging Pacific Mangroves Initiative (PMI). Rhizophora x selala is a hybrid of Rhizophora samoensis and Rhizophora stylosa. PMI is a regional partnership between IUCN, SPREP and countries of the Pacific region. The initiative seeks to enhance the management of mangroves and associated coastal ecosystems to sustain and improve livelihoods, enhance and sustain coastal biodiversity and explore adaptation and mitigation approaches to climate change. The MESCAL project delivers on the initiative s goals. The MESCAL project is supported by the German government under the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Pemphis acidula occur in calcareous rocky and sandy beaches high in the intertidal zone, and often above the high tide line. This species is beneficial for shoreline protection against high wind. It is a very sturdy and resilient plant, however, it will not grow anywhere other than the appropriate habitat type. Images courtesy of MESCAL Tonga 2 P a g e

Twenty species and counting Preliminary findings of the fish fauna survey held on September 12th 2012 in Le Asaga Bay, Samoa have revealed that more than 20 fish species and several mobile crustacean

The findings have prompted the communities of Le Asaga Bay to take a more serious approach to the conservation of their surrounding mangrove ecosystems.

3 Twenty species and counting Preliminary findings of the fish fauna survey held on September 12th 2012 in Le Asaga Bay, Samoa have revealed that more than 20 fish species and several mobile crustacean species of various life stages occur in the bay either temporarily or permanently. The findings have prompted the communities of Le Asaga Bay to take a more serious approach to the conservation of their surrounding mangrove ecosystems. Some of the species that were recorded during the survey at Le Asaga Bay, Samoa MESCAL Samoa The mangroves have been fully realized as a source of livelihood for the communities of Le Asaga Bay mangroves when the MESCAL Samoa project completed the fish fauna surveys, MESCAL Samoa Project Country Coordinator Ms.Malama Momoemausu said. Some of the fish species that are usually associated with coral reefs were recorded in the mangrove areas. Among these fish species were surgeonfish, snapper, goatfish and crescent perch. To the unfamiliar, mangroves are just smelly swampy wastelands however as the findings show, mangroves are indeed very vital ecosystems which breed and nurture a variety of fish and crustaceans that further forms the livelihood basis, not mentioning the immeasurable roles they play for community coastal protection and adaptation, Ms.Malama continued. The surveys are one of the key achievements for the MESCAL Samoa Project in terms of understanding the Bay s baseline mangrove faunal biodiversity and fisheries resources and availability of information for planning and management purposes. Survey team with MESCAL Samoa NCC Malama (centre) preparing the cast nets MESCAL Samoa The information collected is currently being analysed and the final Report for the surveys will be available once completed. 3 P a g e

Native gecko spotted With the aim to increase climate change resilience and improving livelihoods through co-management and restoration of mangroves and associated ecosystems, MESCAL Fiji carried out

It was during this survey, the heptofauna team encountered a long lost familiar friend, the native Indo-Pacific tree gecko.

4 Native gecko spotted With the aim to increase climate change resilience and improving livelihoods through co-management and restoration of mangroves and associated ecosystems, MESCAL Fiji carried out a 2 week biodiversity survey from 17th 28th September 2012 in the Rewa Delta, the demonstration site for Fiji MESCAL project. It was during this survey, the heptofauna team encountered a long lost familiar friend, the native Indo-Pacific tree gecko. The Rewa Delta, which covers an estimated land mass area of 86km 2 is located between the Rewa and Tailevu provinces in Fiji. The survey team consisted of 40 experts from the Institute of Applied Science University of the South Pacific (IAS), Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Fiji Museum and Nature Fiji. Leading the survey were Mr. Marika Tuiwawa, Curator of the South Pacific Regional Herbarium (SPRH) at IAS and Mr. Aisake Batibasaga of the Department of Fisheries. A lot of interesting findings were made during the survey. The number of communities that rely on the mangrove ecosystems for livelihood was astonishing, said Mr. Tuiwawa of IAS. The biodiversity assessments looked at fisheries inventory, mangrove forest inventory, other flora, Invasive species, insects, birds and mammals and culturally significant sites. Top: Introduced (common) house gecko MESCAL PMU Bottom: Native Indo-Pacific tree gecko McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database A significant find for the herpetofauna team was the capture of the Indo-Pacific tree gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus. According to herptofauna team leader Ms. Nunia Thomas, this was her first ever encounter with the species in her 10 years of herptofauna research in Fiji. A native to Fiji, there is little known of this tiny gecko. Predominantly a species of disturbed habitats, this gecko was once commonly found in urban Suva, but has been displaced by the more aggressive, introduced, house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) in most places, Ms. Thomas explained. This survey results will not only act as a baseline for the MESCAL Fiji project, but will also fill information gaps at a national level, providing data to the Fiji National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP), the Mangrove Management Committee, the Integrated Coastal Management Committee and the Wetlands Steering committee. Department of Forestry officers taking biomass data during the biodiversity survey in Rewa, Fiji MESCAL Fiji The MESCAL Fiji project hopes that a better understanding of importance of mangrove biodiversity will strengthen mangrove management and conservation efforts. A report of the survey should be available by end of this month. 4 P a g e

Tangled By Senilolia Tuiwawa The very dense root system of the hybrid, Rhizophora x selala in Rhizophoraceae, often locally referred to

Teasing out the tangents and tangles of its root system proved very interesting for both the foresters and conservators. The stands of R.

Carbon stock on these untapped stands, stands both as a lucrative alternative livelihood measure as well as mitigation measure on the

5 Tangled By Senilolia Tuiwawa The very dense root system of the hybrid, Rhizophora x selala in Rhizophoraceae, often locally referred to as selala, along the road to Waicoka village in the Tailevu province, Fiji. Teasing out the tangents and tangles of its root system proved very interesting for both the foresters and conservators. The stands of R. x selala is hard to miss and extends, by the least, several acres towards the leeward and windward ends on either side of the road. Carbon stock on these untapped stands, stands both as a lucrative alternative livelihood measure as well as mitigation measure on the impacts of climate change for coastal systems. Tokasaya Cakacaka, field assistant, on a huge trunk of R. x. selala. Previous Issues Available for download here 5 P a g e not intended for wider distribution

MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN

MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for Far and Away Islands, Republic of Pacifica Authors: V. Reed (NPC) Reviewers: R. View (Moore Consulting) Version History: VERSION