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Kokomo Island Fiji
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Mangrove Reforestation at Kokomo Private Island Fiji

Mangrove Reforestation

  • Close up shot of mangrove growing at Kokomo Private Island Fiji
  • Kokomo Private Island staff member watering plants on the island
  • Kokomo Private Island staff member tending to one of the gardens on the island

Our Mangrove Reforestation project aims to plant and restore mangroves, critical to coastal protection. Mangroves are salt tolerant plants that grow in tidal and riverine areas. Their highly biodiverse habitats create a unique environment for an abundance of marine and freshwater life. Given mangroves are also five times greater at sequestering carbon than rainforests, they are critical in combating climate change and the effects of excess carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere.

To assist with restoration efforts, our team collect mangrove seeds, which are grown in a mangrove nursery on the island. The seeds will be ready for transplantation once they have germinated, with well-established root systems more likely to survive and withstand wave action in tidal areas. Mangroves have been proven to reduce wave action by more than 90%, vital in protecting low-lying coastal villages against cyclones and tsunamis.

Participate

Guests have the opportunity to participate in planting and transplanting activities with the Kids Club and landscaping department, regularly assisting with watering, weeding and maintenance. By educating guests on the importance of mangroves, having them participate in planting activities, and helping protect local communities, this project raises environmental awareness while assisting in community development.

Spotlight: Narikoso Village

One of our neighbouring villages in need of protection is Narikoso village. Located 30-minutes south of Kokomo, Narikoso continues to be affected by rising sea levels. With the assistance of the Fijian Government, the village have already relocated twice. They are now aiming to build a natural sea wall from mangroves to help protect their new location from future coastal wave damage.

Our team began transplanting mangroves in Narikoso village in July 2020, with mangroves from our Kokomo Mangrove Nursery. The residents of Narikoso village were educated on the importance of mangroves and locals of all ages, participated in transplanting these mangroves. To date we have transplanted more than 3,200 mangroves onto Narikoso’s shores.