A mangrove replanting program at Siufaga Falelatai hopes to get 10,000 seedlings planted by the end of this year.

In order to reach that target the community planted 3,000 mangrove seedlings on Thursday as part of a United Nations Development Programme [U.N.D.P.] Global Environment Facility [G.E.F.] Small Grants Programme in partnership with the village and the community of Siufaga Falelatai.

According to Ofusina Toamua of the U.N.D.P., the G.E.F. Small Grants Programme supports the effort of the village to restore their mangrove ecosystems, which perished over the past decade due to rising sea levels and man-made activities.

The man-made activities included land reclamation and the dumping of waste into the mangroves due to limited awareness on their importance as part of the marine ecosystem.

Ms Toamua said the four-year project started in 2017 and has a total cost of US$50,000 with US$35,000 from the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme, US$5,000 from the village and US$10,000 in kind comprising village labour and resources.

The rehabilitation work of clearing waste and replanting mangrove seedlings with increased awareness on the importance of mangroves was the overall goal of the initiative, in order to restore the natural status of the mangrove fauna and flora habitats. 

Asking how many mangrove seedlings were planted on Thursday, Ms Toamua said 3,000 with 10,000 the target. 

“Three thousand mangrove seedlings. A pledge of 10,000 mangrove seedlings is the target for replanting before the end year ends.”

The participants in Thursday’s replanting programme included the whole village and community of Siufaga Falelatai comprising the village council, women’s committee, the youth, the M.N.R.E. Division of Environment and Conservation, the U.N.D.P. G.E.F. Small Grants Programme, neighbouring villages and primary school students. 

The mangrove planting activity was organised by the U.N.D.P. G.E.F. Small Grants Programme and the village community of Siufaga Falelatai.