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A petition with 1826 signatures and paper by Dr. Padma Narsey Lal on "Saving Tiri in Fiji", which calls for an integrated approach to the use and management of mangroves, has been delivered to the offices of the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, the Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Director for Environment.
Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary, Reverend James Bhagwan says they urgently call on the Government to rescind the renewal of the five-year development lease issued to Tian Lun Investment Limited and protect the mangroves from destruction, in consultation with traditional qoliqoli owners, issue a Protection Order on the remaining Nasese Mangrove Area and its surrounds for Conservation, Recreational Green Space and Educational Purposes only, and halt further development on the Nasese Waters Project until the drainage within the development and its surrounds are rectified by the developer and relevant authorities.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Deputy Prime Ministers, Minister for Lands, Department of Environment and the Suva City Council
The petition is submitted on behalf of the property owners, residents, business owners, road users, ratepayers of Suva, citizens of Fiji and environment warriors of the immediate Muanikau/Domain/Nasese/ Laucala Bay/Flagstaff Neighbourhood, the Greater Suva Area, the wider Fiji community locally and abroad.
Reverend Bhagwan says the petition strongly protests against the removal and destruction of the remaining State Tiri (mangrove) in Nasese and calls on the Government to reject any further applications for the proposed integrated tourism development project by Tian Lun Investment (Fiji) Pte Limited.
The Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary says this is based on the grounds that a 5-year development lease was issued by the Ministry of Lands on 1st July 2018 without any comprehensive stakeholder consultation with the nearby residents and the general public prior to issuing the lease.
He also says the Tian Lun Environment Impact Assessment Terms of Reference was issued by the Department of Environment without proper review of the development plans and consultation with relevant stakeholders as part of the Screening Application Process and as required under Part 2 of the Environmental Management Regulations 2007.
The petition says the development proposal and concept presented by Tian Lun is deceiving, incorrect and shows a lack of knowledge of the area.
The development plans show a proposed marina development within the foreshore area.
The petitioners say this area is not included in their current development lease area.
Reverend Bhagwan says Nasese Waters is a high-end residential subdivision area, yet they have incorrectly and deceptively shown this as a garden and lake.
They say that if the Government would consider entertaining this proposal to remove the last stand of mangroves from within Suva City’s Green Space, it would be contradictory.
The Department of Environment is in the process of drafting a Mangrove Conservation Management Regulation aimed at raising awareness on the importance of conserving mangrove ecosystems, strengthening existing protection measures and supporting efforts to halt further mangrove degradation.
Reverend Bhagwan says the destruction of the mangrove forests presents a danger to the marine and bird life that thrive within the mangrove ecosystem.
He says it threatens the local community’s sources of livelihoods and recreational activities.
The petitioners further say that Fiji is a global leader in the battle against climate change and removing mangroves compromises its official stand regionally and globally.
Mangroves store thousands of years of carbon dioxide beneath the soil and once removed releases huge amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.
They also say that the Government and municipality have not responded adequately to the outcry of the Nasese residents who have for the past 12 years faced regular flooding of their homes and streets due to the reclamation of State Tiri (mangroves) by the Nasese Waters development project immediately adjacent to the Tian Lun proposed development site.
Reverend Bhagwan also says not only will this proposed project exacerbate the flooding, but it will destroy the natural catchment area of storm water flowing through Leveti Creek from Toorak, Flagstaff, Muanikau, Domain and Nasese areas. They look forward to action by the government and city council in this matter.
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