The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
i
Credits Photos
Design
Halena Scanlon Tristan Pearce Javier Leon Ismail Mesbah Vicky O’Rourke
© 2021 Nadroga-Navosa Provincial Council, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, and the Environmental Change Research Group. Manuel, L, Scanlon, H, Leon, J and Pearce, T (2021). The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei, Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji. Joint publication of Nadroga-Navosa Provincial Council, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada, and the Environmental Change Research Group.
We dedicate this report to those who participated in the research and shared their knowledge and experiences of Koroua Island.
Table of Contents Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1.
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.
SPL1495 Sigatoka Ironsands Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.
Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3.1 Interview Sample. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3.2 Interview Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3.3 Narrative Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3.4 Spatial Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.
Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4.1 Key Findings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4.2 Social Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4.3 Threats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.
Participant Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
6.
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Acknowledgments We would like to thank everyone who participated in the research and generously shared their knowledge. Thank you for welcoming us into your homes and community. Vinaka Vakalevu, thank you. This research would also not have been possible without the support of the Nadroga-Navosa Provincial Council. Thank you for welcoming us to your province and guiding us throughout the research. To our guides, Simi Naibuka, Francis Lasike, and Emitai Karatu Naleweniikataga; thank you for the shared meals and for teaching us about the Fijian way of life. Thank you also to Teresa Rietburg for your guidance. This research was funded by the University of the Sunshine Coast School of Science and Engineering, the University of Northern British Columbia, and an Australian Government New Colombo Plan Scholarship.
Figure 1 Boy from Sigatoka Village playing by the river on Koroua Island.
The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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Executive Summary Fijians live in close connection to their environment, relying on it for income and sustenance. Environmental change, driven by a range of forces operating at local to global scales, threatens to degrade the environment’s capacity to provide critical ecosystem services. This is of growing concern to Fijians. However, efforts to understand the effects of environmental change to date have largely focused on biophysical and economic impacts with little attention given to potential impacts on people’s health, culture, or livelihoods. As a result, the needs and concerns of iTaukei (Indigenous Fijians) are often absent from decision making regarding resource development and environmental management. This study aimed to document and map iTaukei social values of Koroua Island and threats to these values. Located near the mouth of the Sigatoka River, Koroua Island is extensively farmed by surrounding villages including Vunavutu, Nasama and Sigatoka Village. Koroua Island is within the SPL1495 Sigatoka Ironsands exploration claim held by Dome Gold Mines Ltd (also operating under Magma Mines Ltd). Covering an area of approximately 2,522 hectares, the area is rich in valuable heavy minerals such as magnetite which is used in the production of steel. An Environmental Impact Assessment commissioned by Dome found that residents and the environment would benefit from the mine. However, the validity of the assessment is questionable as there was a lack of consideration given to the social impacts of the mine and related activities. In November 2019, the Nadroga-Navosa Provincial Council and the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, in cooperation with villages and other partners, conducted 29 face-to-face interviews
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
and participatory mapping with iTaukei in several villages (Vunavutu, Nasama and Sigatoka Village). The wellbeing and prosperity of local communities is strongly tied to the health of Koroua Island. The entire island and surrounding creeks and river are vital to the lives and livelihoods of many iTaukei from the study villages, ensuring both food and income security. Produce, fish and shellfish harvested from Koroua Island, Koroua Channel and Sigatoka River provide sustenance to the local and wider community with excess sold or traded in the villages, roadside stalls or at market. A diverse range of social values were assigned to Koroua Island by participants. Many of these values are intangible and contribute to the identity and wellbeing of both the community and the individual. However, Koroua Island and the surrounding environment are exposed to a number of stressors, which have consequences for iTaukei lives and livelihoods. Of the threats identified, mining activity in the region was the most often discussed. Participants described existing damage to farmland and mangroves resulting from the mine and were concerned about impacts it will have on the environment and community wellbeing in the future. To address these concerns, participants want to be included in decision-making concerning the mine and related activities. It is evident that greater levels of genuine community participation in Environmental Impact Assessment is needed in Fiji. Our research findings are intended to inform evidence-based decision making in a manner that ensures the wellbeing and livelihoods of iTaukei and protects the environment on which they depend.
Figure 2 Sigatoka Town.
The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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1.0 Introduction Fiji is undergoing rapid environmental change, driven largely by climate change and resource exploitation. These stressors are contributing to negative impacts on the environment, health, culture and livelihoods of Fijians. Climate change is among the greatest threats facing Fiji and its people, the cumulative impacts of which are predicted to persist and intensify in the future. As the climate changes, Fiji is also confronted with the additional pressure of natural resource exploitation such as commercial fishing, forestry, agriculture, and mining. These activities result in outcomes harmful to the communities reliant on their local environment for their lives and livelihoods. To date, the focus on managing these environmental impacts has primarily been on understanding the biophysical changes and their impacts on the environment, with little attention given to the potential impacts on people, their health, livelihoods, or culture. Similarly, little attention has been given to iTaukei needs with regard to environmental management decision-making to understand the potential consequences of resource exploitation for iTaukei lives. This report responds to this knowledge need and documents iTaukei social values (uses and values) of Koroua Island as well as threats to these values. In 2019, researchers returned to the Sigatoka region with the intention of building and expanding on findings concerning Koroua
Explanation of social values
Island from the 2017 Sigatoka Estuary study. The aim of this study was to document and map iTaukei social values of Koroua Island and threats to these values. The objectives of this study were to:
1
map the spatial distribution of iTaukei social values of Koroua Island;
2
document perceived and actual threats to Koroua Island; and
3
examine the effects of perceived and actual threats on iTaukei social values.
Our goal is to bring a “human face” to the issue of resource development on Koroua Island and the wider Sigatoka area. The contents of this report are intended to contribute to the development of more productive, equitable environmental management decision-making in Fiji that better reflects and supports the needs, concerns, and livelihoods of local peoples.
Social values are defined here as the importance of places, landscapes, and the resources or services they provide as defined by individual and/or group perceptions and attitudes towards a given place or landscape. In this sense, social values are taken to include the importance people attach to goods such as food products and activities such as recreation.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
2.0 SPL1495 Sigatoka Ironsands Project The mineral profile of the island, river and surrounding area has residents are likely to benefit from the increase in productivity of land, attracted interest from resource developers. Dome Gold Mines (also river and marine environment and through job opportunities’. It is operating under Magma Mines Ltd) secured a Special Prospecting evident that the assessment failed to consider the social impacts of the Licence renewal for its SPL1495 Sigatoka Ironsands Project which project and did not adequately include the public. covers an area of approximately 2,522.69 hectares (Figure 3). This licence enables Dome to continue conducting a definitive feasibility study (DFS) of the area for an additional three years. The purpose of the DFS is to determine the amount and type of minerals present in the licence area and their market value. Drill samples taken during the DFS show that Koroua Island consists of a twenty-six-metre deep sand and gravel deposit containing over one million tonnes of heavy minerals, predominantly magnetite, a mineral used in the production of steel. Findings from the DFS along with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be used to support Dome’s application for a mining lease in the near future. An EIA was conducted by an independent consultancy firm based in Fiji in late 2014. According to Dome Gold Mines’ 2015 annual report, the assessment concluded that ‘the proposed mining, dredging and mineral extraction development project is likely to have significant economic benefits to the local area, Figure 3 Known magnetite-bearing sand deposits within the licence area. the region and the Country of Fiji and local The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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3.0 Methods Researchers conducted twenty-nine face-to-face interviews and participatory mapping exercises with participants from three villages (Sigatoka Village, Nasama, and Vunavutu) between the 18th to 23rd of November 2019. These villages were selected because of pre-existing land access rights to Koroua Island as well as their close association with the island. Future research on social values of Koroua Island should include participants from Kulukulu. The research was undertaken with the support of the NadrogaNavosa Provincial Council. Study protocols were approved by the Human Research Ethics Boards at the University of the Sunshine Coast (approval reference: A/15/751)
3.1 Interview Sample Individuals whose means of livelihood and wellbeing are linked to Koroua Island were invited to participate in the study. Twenty-nine interviews were conducted across three villages: Nasama, Vunavutu and Sigatoka Village (Table 1). Participants represented a range of ages, professions, and genders.
Interviews took place in either a participant’s home or a public area of their village such as a lawn, wherever was comfortable and practical for participants. A lead interviewer, assistant and interpreter were present for most interviews which were conducted in both Fijian and English. Prior to starting an interview, the purpose of the study was explained to participants, both verbally and in writing, before they signed a consent form. Interviews lasted between fourteen and thirtysix minutes. Twenty-eight out of twenty-nine participants consented to the interview being recorded with ten hours’ worth of recordings being transcribed.
Table 1. Characteristics of the interview sample Vunavutu Age
M
F
<20
1
1
21-30
1
8
41-50
A semi-structured interview protocol was applied so that participants could describe the importance of Koroua Island in their own words. A sevusevu was conducted before interviews, guided by representatives of the Nadroga-Navosa Provincial Council, to discuss the research with village representatives, obtain feedback and agree on a day to conduct interviews.
51-60
The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
61-70
F
1
2
5
M
2
1
Total
1
5
1
4
1
1
1
6
2
1
1
4
1
6
1
2
1
1
5
F
2
2
>71 Total
M
Sigatoka Village
3
31-40
3.2 Interview Design
Nasama
8
2
4
2 5
29
and threat. These themes were then further coded into sub-themes that specified what type of value (e.g. recreational, spiritual, subsistence, etc.) or threat (e.g. dredging, climate change, mining, etc.) were discussed.
3.4 Spatial Analysis
Figure 4 Research team in Nasama. From left to right: Simi Naibuka, Halena Scanlon, Damian Seery.
Spatial data analysis resulted in a map that enabled us to determine the distribution of participant values and where they are clustering to form ‘hotspots’ that are indicative of areas of high social value. Creating this map was a multi-step process. Firstly, photographs taken of each participant’s map were georeferenced to a satellite image of the island and digitised using ArcGIS software. To digitise participant maps, each hand-drawn polygon was manually traced, creating a digital copy. Following the interview themes, polygons were categorised as being of monetary and/or non-monetary value. Each of these categories were classified into three classes, as determined by the number of polygon layers, resulting in a total of nine classes. A green-to-orange colour scheme was utilised to display hotspots for monetary and nonmonetary values.
3.3 Narrative Analysis
Explanation of monetary values: values participants
Data from the interviews were analysed to identify repeated or common themes related to the broad categories of the interview guide. Following the structure of the interviews, participant responses were initially grouped into the broad categories of monetary, non-monetary
Explanation of non-monetary values: values participants assigned to places for reasons other than because they provided participants with a source of income e.g. recreation.
assigned to places that provided them with a source of income.
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4.0 Results 4.1 Key Findings The entire island and surrounding creeks and river are integral to the lives and livelihoods of many iTaukei from the study villages. There is substantial overlap between monetary and non-monetary values with produce, fish and shellfish harvested from Koroua Island, Koroua Channel and Sigatoka River providing both income and sustenance to locals and the wider community. A diverse range of social values are assigned to Koroua Island by iTaukei. Many of these values are intangible and contribute to the identity and wellbeing of both the community and the individual. Koroua Island and the surrounding environment are exposed to a number of stressors, which have negative implications for iTaukei lives and livelihoods. Of these threats, proposed iron sands mining was the most frequently discussed with participants concerned about what impacts it will have on Koroua Island and community wellbeing in the future. Spatial analysis of the PGIS outcomes resulted in a hotspot map detailing the distribution of monetary (dark orange), non-monetary (bright green) and both monetary and non-monetary hotspots (dark green) on Koroua Island (Figure 6). It is evident that participant’s attribute social values to the entire island as well as the surrounding creeks and river. Household farms are distributed throughout the island and are valued for both monetary and non-monetary reasons. Sites where villages had once stood were repeatedly identified by participants and are highly valued for non-monetary reasons. The large polygon on the southern region of Koroua Island marks the location of the coconut plantation from which participants gather coconuts and crabs and is of medium non-monetary value. Sigatoka River is high in
monetary value but low in non-monetary value while the banks of the river are valued for both. It is important to note that, while there are areas that were not marked as significant, they may still hold importance to people who did not participate in the study. Additionally, social values discussed by participants may extend beyond their respective polygons with boundaries being fluid and permeable depending on the use or value concerned and the individual. Therefore, unmarked places cannot be regarded as insignificant or without value. It is also important to note that while the results are organized into monetary, non-monetary and threat categories, participants often assigned more than one value to sites, resulting in substantial overlap.
Figure 5 Children running the paths on Koroua Island.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Figure 6 Bivariate choropleth map of monetary and non-monetary values assigned by participants to Koroua Island. The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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4.2 social values 4.2.1 Monetary Values Agriculture Twenty-three participants (79%), said that they and/or members of their families, drew income from household farms on Koroua Island. Crops such as cassava, banana (vudi), sweet potato (kumala)
and spinach (bele) are primarily used for subsistence with excess sold in the villages, roadside stalls or the Sigatoka market. It is therefore not surprising that participants typically circled the location of their household farm when indicting areas of monetary importance. Ten participants (34%) also discussed the importance of coconuts as a source of income. Coconuts are harvested from either household farms or a plantation on the island that the community has access to. The unique taste of crops grown on Koroua, particularly cassava, was repeatedly mentioned both during and outside of interviews. Cassava is a root crop that is highly significant to the lives of iTaukei both for everyday consumption and special occasions such as weddings and funerals. Cassava grown on Koroua Island is thought by many to have a much richer, sweeter taste than cassava grown elsewhere due to the islands fertile soil. One participant also considered the better taste to be an indicator of a more nutritious crop. Cassava from Koroua is therefore highly sought after at market, selling faster and for a better price than cassava grown elsewhere.
“If you go and eat somewhere else, root crops from other places, Koroua island cassava it tastes different… it’s sweet”.
Figure 7 Crops grown on Koroua Island.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Fish and Shellfish Thirteen participants (45%) identified fish and shellfish as an important source of income. People fish the river and channel using nets, rods and boats if they or a relative has access to one. For people
without access to a boat, shallower areas of the river enable them to access sections that they would otherwise be unable to. One participant described harvesting prawns with a net from these shallow areas. Participants stated that they generally sold their catch within the village. Mud crabs are harvested from various locations on Koroua Island. Sections of the island are covered in a dense growth of mangroves with several participants marking the southern end of the island as an area where crabs are harvested. In the soil beneath the mangroves, deep holes are present that large crabs burrow in. These crabs can also be found in the coconut plantation. At night they emerge from their burrows and are captured by villagers for both consumption and as a source of income. Livestock Two participants (7%) spoke about the importance of cattle as an additional source of income. Cattle graze on Koroua Island with ropes and fencing employed to ensure that they cannot wander into neighbouring crop plots, although this is occasionally an issue. Once the cattle mature, they are typically sold as beef cattle and provide substantial earnings. Without access to Koroua Island, people have nowhere to graze their cattle and subsequently lose a source of income. Cattle are also important to some farmers who use them to plough the earth. As one participant explained, the use of cattle allows farmers to work faster. However, access can be difficult with more than ten families sharing the one cow in the case of the participant interviewed. When cattle are unavailable, forks are used to till the earth which requires more time and effort, particularly in places with harder soil.
Figure 8 Bullock grazing on Koroua Island.
Tourism Only one participant mentioned tourism on Koroua Island as a source of income. According to the participant, tours are operated by a tour group that pays the village. They explained that tourists want to see how local people live, so guides take them to the island to see the farms. However, they added that this is not a regular occurrence. The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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4.2.2 Non Monetary Values Subsistence Twenty-eight participants (97%) assigned subsistence values to places on Koroua Island. When asked why the island was so important to them, most participants (90%) stated that it was because the island provided them with a reliable source of nourishing food. This was further emphasised by participants (62%) who connected the health of the island with their own personal health and the health of their community. Twenty-five participants (86%) reported growing produce on Koroua Island for consumptive purposes. Participants catalogued over twenty different crops that are grown on the island. From interviews it became apparent that Koroua Island is a vital source of sustenance during times of financial hardship, ensuring food security for many in the villages. If formal sources of employment are scarce, individuals and families can continue to rely on the island for both subsistence and income. When asked why Koroua Island was so important to her, one participant spoke of how it ensured that her family did not starve when she was a child and neither of her parents could secure work. This was echoed by another participant who stated:
‘… Koroua island is our source of nourishment. Where we grow everything for our living, daily living. We farm Koroua Island… we have our livelihood there... If you stay in the village and you[‘re] not working, still you can survive because everything you need is there in the island’.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Figure 9 Researchers with guides on Koroua Island. From left to right: Halena Scanlon, Emitai Karatu Naleweniikataga, Damian Seery.
In addition to providing food and income security to those living in close proximity to Koroua Island, it was found that it also supports the extended families of community members through a food sharing network that spans Viti Levu. The data shows that familial networks play an important role in maintaining food security and kinship bonds. One participant’s husband supplies her old village with cassava for special functions as well as other family members in Suva and Nadi with the participant emphasising that this support is ‘extremely important’. Twenty participants (69%) discussed the importance of shellfish and fish sourced from Koroua Island and the surrounding creek and river for subsistence purposes. Most participants identified sections of the riverbank along the Sigatoka River and the river itself as important fishing sites. Some participants discussed going to the same place to fish since childhood, often with their friends and family, developing a familiarity with local river conditions as a result. This knowledge informed site selection and fishing practices. Four participants (14%) also discussed the importance of Koroua Island as a source of firewood. Wood harvested from the island is used for cooking with many households possessing a simple wood-fired kitchen. Most participants did not specify a single place from which they source firewood. The one participant that did circled the coconut plantation. The medicinal value of Koroua Island was discussed by two participants (7%). Plants grown on the island, such as chillies, are consumed to treat various physical ailments. The mental health benefits of the island were also discussed with one participant describing it as a ‘relaxing’ place where they could forget the outside world and gain satisfaction from their farm.
Figure 10 Crop field.
The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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Heritage Koroua Island has been used for centuries by iTaukei. This connection to previous generations is of great significance to iTaukei with fourteen participants (48%) assigning heritage values to Koroua Island. The continuation of practices that their ancestors performed, such as farming, was important to participants. This was often accompanied by a sense of responsibility to ensure that future generations continue to care for the island and follow the ‘old ways’. In this respect, heritage values of Koroua Island contribute to shaping the identity of both the individual and the community. Historically, Koroua Island was not only a place for farming but was also the site of villages that were highly valued by participants. These sites were abandoned after repeat flood events. The people of Vunavutu are descended from those who left the settlements on the island. Therefore, the sites are particularly important to them and their history. Participants from other villages often stated that the sites were places deserving of respect with this being the most common response. Recreation Koroua Island was also identified as a place of recreation by a number of participants (38%). Activities specifically discussed were swimming, picnicking and play such as games of hide-and-seek. From these discussions, it is evident that Koroua Island is not purely valued as a source of food or income but also as a place where friends and families bond through the creation of meaningful experiences. Several participants (24%) described going to Koroua Island and swimming off the banks of the Sigatoka River with their friends and family. Choice swimming spots were marked on participant maps
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
with one particular spot repeatedly identified. When asked what made that site better than other sections of the riverbank, it was explained that there were trees there ideal for jumping from the branches ‘like a springboard’ and diving into the water. That site was well known and had been used for many years with some elders still considering it their favourite swimming spot. Four participants (14%) told stories about picnicking on Koroua Island. One participant described taking food to their farm and connecting with their family there. Another participant spoke of a place on the riverbank where she would swim, fish and picnic with her friends in her childhood. This sentiment was repeated across numerous interviews. Two participants (7%) discussed playing on Koroua Island. When wanting to get out of the village, one participant stated that they relax on the farm and play hide-and-seek there. This was echoed by the other participant who played on the island as a child and now plays there with their own children. That their children were doing the same things they did in their childhood was important to the participant who expressed a hope that this would not change.
‘We usually play hide-and-seek. We just roam around. Nothing to do at home so we used to roam around the island. We still do that. The kids, they can even go themselves and come back’.
Community Koroua Island contributes to the social fabric of the community both as a physical place where various activities are performed and through the produce harvested there. A participant from Vunavutu spoke of the bond within and between the villages, stating that Koroua is where people ‘get to know each other’ and ‘work as one’, strengthening the community as a result. There were numerous participant stories of coming together with their friends and families for recreational and subsistence activities. For example, a participant described walking through the mangroves along Koroua Channel in the evenings with other women from their village, gathering crabs as they went. Another participant spoke of swimming with their childhood friend on the island. It was evident that these stories were very meaningful to some participants, particularly for elders who reminisced of times spent on the island with their parents as children.
‘… my mother and father would farm, and I would go to the mangrove swamp and catch crab, small prawns. I loved it. I would go and get them from the mangrove swamp and then I would bring them back and we would boil the root crops, cassava. Then we would eat the crabs and all that. We get it from the mangrove swamp. That’s why the mangrove swamp is very important to my heart’. Figure 11 Children playing in Koroua Channel.
The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
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Spiritual Eight participants (28%) assigned spiritual value to Koroua Island. The old village sites were identified as ‘sacred’ by participants from Vunavutu mainly. Participants from Sigatoka Village marked the location of an old cemetery on the island. However, there were different accounts amongst participants as to who was buried there and where they were from. It was repeated several times outside of interviews that ‘the land has eyes’ in reference to Koroua Island. Whilst ground-truthing on the island, a guide pointed to a section of mangroves stating that they had once seen a woman they knew to be a spirit watching him there. They explained that the woman and other spirits protect the island from trespassers or those who do not respect it. When asked if there were any bad spiritual places, one participant marked a place along the riverbank they avoided because they believed spirits to be there. Future Koroua Island is connected to the hopes the community holds for the future. It was important to participants that future generations would be able to have the same experiences that they did on the Island. For example, one participant hoped that their children would be able to picnic on the island with their own children like they had. Life-sustaining Only one participant specifically mentioned abiotic features of Koroua Island. When asked why the health of Koroua Island was important to them, the participant connected it to their own health, referring to the provision of ‘fresh air’.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Figure 12 A boy from Sigatoka Village.
4.3 Threats The health of Koroua Island is under threat from several sources, the cumulative impacts of which jeopardise iTaukei lives and livelihoods (Table 2). While these threats have been here described in isolation, many are interlinked and contribute to additional impacts. Each of these threats’ places pressure on the continued ability of Koroua Island to support reliant communities. It is also evident that they will not only diminish food and livelihood security but also social and cultural dimensions of the community.
Table 2 Summary of identified threats and their impacts Threats
Impacts
Mining Twenty-six participants (90%) discussed their concerns surrounding mining activity on Koroua Island. For some participants the mine was considered to be the greatest threat to Koroua Island. Impacts on farmland were one of the main concerns associated with the mine. Participants described damage to their land and fences as a result of drilling and accompanying equipment. Dome constructed a bridge at Vunavutu and roads to transport their equipment throughout the island which resulted in a loss of farmland for some. Participants also claimed that the roads caused drainage issues that killed their crops. According to one participant compensation was paid to those whose farmland was damaged as a result of mining activities, but it should be noted that this was only a one-off payment in the case of the participant interviewed.
Mining
• • • •
Damage to farmland. Vegetation clearing.Increased rates of erosion. Restricted movement through the Koroua Channel. Improved access to the island.
Climate Change
• • •
Drier conditions. Increase in flooding events. Erosion.
Flooding
• •
Damage to crops and farmland. Nutrient replenishment.
Dredging
• • • • •
Changes in fish assemblage. Changes in how people use Sigatoka River. Erosion. Degradation of soil and vegetation on Koroua Island Decrease in flooding.
Pollution
•
Decrease in the size and abundance of fish in the Koroua Channel
Societal Change
•
Decline in adoption of traditional practices amongst younger generations
‘… that mining company. They build the roads. It’s like leaving the rest of the land there down and the level of the road is on top. So, the when the rain comes… there is no access for the water to go out. So, it stays inside and spoils the farm’.
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As participants explained, there were both benefits and drawbacks to the construction of the roads and Vunavutu bridge. While they made it easier to transport crops and materials to and from the island, they also provided outsiders with greater access which was a major point of concern for participants. The bridge coupled with Koroua Channel becoming narrower and shallower in recent years also helped pest species such as pigs come onto the island and destroy crops. Additionally, participants were frustrated that the bridge was not constructed with boats in mind as they now cannot travel past that point, impacting fishing and movement throughout Koroua Channel. Participants held Dome responsible for damage done to mangroves and coconut palms on the island. Clearing of vegetation as well as the dumping of soil, killing subsistence creatures such as crabs, caused significant distress to some participants. Mangrove loss was also connected to increased erosion by participants who wanted to see replacement mangroves planted to address this. Participants shared their fears regarding how the mine could potentially affect the wellbeing of future generations. As discussed, the welfare and health of the community is closely tied to Koroua Island with participants stating that the island must be protected to ensure future food and livelihood security. This was connected to a desire for future generations to continue living in the way of their ancestors. There were conflicting accounts of the degree to which Dome engaged the community with some claiming that there had been no consultation. This translated into uncertainty amongst participants regarding the nature of Dome ’s interest in Koroua Island and the surrounding area. To address this, participants wanted greater levels of consultation from Dome so that the community could have a better understanding of the project and its purpose.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Figure 13 Bridge built by Dome across Koroua Channel outside of Vunavutu.
‘… we don’t know what Magma is doing and what Magma’s future going to be. Maybe might take all our cream and leave nothing with us…They just said this and that. They’re hiding the reality’.
Figure 14 Drone image of vegetation on Koroua Island.
Climate change Climate change was identified as a threat of concern by several participants (34%). Impacts of climate change included drier conditions, increased flooding events and erosion. Both within and outside of interviews, the effects of climate change were linked to diminished crop condition on Koroua Island. Participants discussed the detrimental effect drier conditions are having on their crops. Conditions on the island were considered by some to be less favourable for farming than they once had been with drier conditions resulting in harder soil that required greater effort to till. For those who grazed cattle on Koroua Island, drier conditions resulted in the disappearance of pasture in places where it had been present in previous years.
Participants also reported reduced crop yield and quality with plants such as cassava failing to grow to the size of previous harvests. One participant attributed this to a climate-driven increase in flooding, saying that it damaged the crops and the land itself. Increased flooding was linked to greater rates of erosion along sections of the island resulting in crop loss for some. One participant described their yams falling into the Sigatoka River as it ate at their land. This was also the case for another participant whose family had lost cassava to the river.
‘Crops, cassava, before [were] bigger… Getting smaller… Something happened to the land’.
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Flooding Flooding was not always attributed to climate change with some viewing it simply as a natural process. Although, there were conflicting responses amongst participants as to whether there has been a change in the frequency of flooding events. For those who grew crops on Koroua Island, flooding was a major concern. It was repeatedly explained that flooding events destroy crops, particularly root vegetables such as cassava which quickly rot. The loss of a crop that requires so much time to grow can equate to a substantial loss in both earnings and food. Yet it is interesting to note that two participants did identify benefits of flooding stating that floods ‘clean[ed]’ the island through the removal of deadwood and deposited rich soil from the valley upriver.
‘…there are a few breeds of cassava. One is one year and one is six months or four months and it take time. To redo the soil again and replant and wait for another six months and wait for a year and then you can start to harvest’.
Dredging The Sigatoka River was dredged in 2016, allegedly to address the numerous impacts of flooding. However, according to participants (48%), dredging has resulted in problems of its own. Participants
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Figure 15 Sigatoka River towards Sigatoka bridge.
reported changes in how they used the Sigatoka River following dredging. Several participants voiced their concerns regarding changes in fish species as a result of deepening the river. An increase in the prevalence of sharks and big fish and the disappearance of smaller fish was noted by some who felt that sections of the river were now too dangerous to fish with nets. In the past, people would walk across the river to neighbouring villages and harvest fish and prawns in shallower sections. However, these areas have purportedly deepened since dredging occurred. Deepening the river also affected where people
took their children swimming with one participant explaining that sites where they had swum as a child were now no longer safe. Another participant expressed concern over how dredging will affect prawns in the future. Koroua Island itself has also been affected by dredging activities. Increased rates of erosion were linked to the recent dredging with one participant stating that the deepened river was ‘eating up the land’. Participants also discussed instances of sand taken from the river being dumped on farmland and mangroves, ruining the soil and killing creatures important to villagers such as mud crabs. Traditional methods of flood mitigation were described by one participant. In the past, the mouth of Sigatoka River would be ‘opened’ in times of flood to release water into the sea. This was done by clearing sand from the mouth by hand. They argued that, unlike dredging, this method did not disrupt nature. They believed that dredging was not suitable or necessary, stating that they already had a working solution. However, some participants felt that there were positives to dredging, attributing it to a reduction in flood events.
Pollution Five participants (17%) discussed the impacts of pollution and its sources. A nearby carwash, Sigatoka hospital and pigpens adjacent to Koroua Channel in addition to the increased use of pesticides on Koroua Island were identified by participants as sources of pollution. Pollution from other villages upriver was also discussed by one participant who believed that an increase in the occurrence of floods was transporting more contaminants downstream. A rise in pollutants was linked to a reduction in the size and prevalence of fish and shellfish, particularly in Koroua Channel where women often gather fish from the creek for subsistence purposes.
‘I do not believe that the dredging is the solution ... Nature will work on that… We don’t bring dredging and all that because it will damage everything’.
Figure 16 Koroua Channel mouth blocked by debris.
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Societal Change That younger generations were less inclined to take up farming and continue traditional practices was a concern to several participants (21%). Some attributed this change to the effects of modernisation and were worried about the impact it may have on their community in the future. Educating young people in the importance of the island and traditional practices was identified by participants as a means of addressing this concern.
‘We are afraid that… because time is changing very fast and even some of the young people … you can see their attitude, behaviour is changing. This village and some of the others, we always talk about that. Getting people to follow the right track and also we’ve gotten some of our ministers to work with the village in guiding them the word of God so that, you know, you must keep on track with everything that we’ve passed down’.
Figure 17 Boys playing on a bridge to Koroua Island with research assistant Damian Seery.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
5.0 Participant Profiles Ruci Buruavatu 46 years
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
sigatoka village
Ruci left Sigatoka Village in 1996 but regularly returns to the area to visit her family. Ruci loves Koroua Isalnd as it is a part of the area where she was born and grew up. Her family grew crops on two farms on Koroua Island but recently moved their farm to land off the island when the soil became too sandy. This led to a reduction in the size and number of crops harvested from their farms resulting in loss of earnings for her family. Ruci attributed this change to the recent dredging of the Sigatoka River as sand that was pulled from the river was then dumped on farmland. When asked if any other areas of Koroua Island were special to her, Ruci marked a section of riverbank on the Sigatoka river where she and her family fish together. She explained that that particular spot is good as there is a drop-off where bigger fish can be found. Ruci was very concerned about the changes she has seen in Koroua Island in recent years. She discussed the impacts of the roads on the island which replaced small tracks that were lined with guava trees. As a child she would walk those trails, eating guava as she went. She was angry that children today would not have the same experiences she did. Ruci wanted to see more education within the villages about the importance of conservation to protect Koroua Island. Figure 18 Ruci Buruavatu in her family’s home with research assistant Damian Seery.
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Simi Naibuka
35 years
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
Nasama
Simi has a farm on Koroua island where he grows cassava, taro, kumala, vudi, coconuts and other assorted vegetables. He also catches fish in the Sigatoka river and mud crabs from the mangroves and coconut plantation on Koroua Island. Gathered crops and fish are primarily for consumption with excess sold in the village and at market. The whole of Koroua Island is special to Simi with every part used for various purposes. The site of one of the old villages on the island was identified as an important heritage site due to its connection to the history of Nasama and Simi’s ancestors. Farming on Koroua island is also strongly tied to the heritage and prosperity of the community with Simi stating that the community’s survival depends on the island. He was very concerned about the impacts of mining noting that the condition of farmland on the island has degraded since exploratory drilling commenced. He attributes this in part to the construction of roads throughout the island which have contributed to drainage issues that result in spoiled crop. Changes in the size and species of fish present in Sigatoka river were also noted by Simi after it was dredged. Sections of the river became too dangerous for Simi to fish as sharks are now more prevalent. Rates of erosion increased after dredging took place, threatening portions of the riverbank and farmland on Koroua island with Simi wanting to see mangroves planted to address this. He also believed that the island would be better protected if measures were implemented to control access and activities on the island.
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Figure 19 Simi Naibuka and Halena Scanlon in Nasama.
Litia Naleweniikataga
67 years
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
Vunavutu
Koroua Island is integral to the survival of Litia’s community. In times of financial hardship, Koroua Island ensured that her family had reliable access to nutritious food and provided an additional source of income. Her family grows cassava, coconut, and bananas on the island for both consumption and to sell. They also catch mud crabs, fish and shellfish that they sell in the village and at market. Litia explained that the sites of the old villages are very important to the history of her community. Litia also valued a section of the Sigatoka River where she would go swimming, fishing and picnicking as a child with her friends and family. She now takes her grandchildren to that same spot. In recent years Litia has seen changes in the islands condition noting an increase in erosion on its southern banks. Litia was also concerned about the impacts of flooding on farms. There are different varieties of cassava, some of which can take a year to grow and require a substantial investment of time and resources. If cassava is submerged for two days or more, it will rot, and farmers have to start over resulting in a significant loss of both food and income. Improved access to the island was another concern for Litia who explained that the narrowing of the Koroua channel was making it easier for people to come onto the island without permission.
Figure 20 Coconut plantation.
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Savenaca Batimala
69 years
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
SIGATOKA village
Savenaca is a retired rugby trainer who has lived in Sigatoka Village his whole life. When asked why Koroua Island is important to him, Savenaca discussed the importance of the island to the heritage of his community and its personal significance as the location of his farm. He grows cassava and vudi which he occasionally sells in the village. Savenaca explained that the food he grows on the island taste different to food grown elsewhere because the floods deposit minerals on the island that enrich the soil. Cassava from Koroua Island sells much faster at market than cassava from the valley because of its better taste. To feed his family, Savenaca also fished the Koroua channel which he says has narrowed in recent years, but this has not affected his fishing. Like many participants, the locations of the old villages were significant to Savenaca. He was concerned about the impacts of erosion on the island particularly along the Sigatoka riverbank. While his farm was safe from these effects, others were forced to move their farms further inland. When asked if the roads and bridge built by Dome has impacted how he uses the island, Savenaca said that they had made it easier to get tractors onto the island to help plough the fields. Educating the next generation in traditional practices such as farming was very important to Savenaca as he was concerned that fewer young people were taking up farming. Figure 21 Savenaca Batimala in his home.
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
Ita Masiwawa
60 years
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
NASAMA
Ita was a market vendor who sold eggs, pawpaw, banana and various other fruits and vegetables her husband grows on their farm. When asked why Koroua Island was so important to her she said that it is an integral food source for the community. Ita frequently walked the length of the Koroua channel, catching small fish and shellfish with a net and gathering crabs that fed her family and provided an additional source of income. Bigger fish were sourced from Sigatoka river and primarily sold. In recent years Ita noticed a decrease in the size and number of fish and prawns in the channel which affected her ability to earn a reliable income from that area. Ita believed that pollution in the rivers from nearby pigpens and pesticides as well as the Koroua channel becoming shallower and narrower were to blame for the disappearance of fish and shellfish. Ita’s husband explained that previous generations used boats on the Koroua channel to transport goods to and from the island. Changes in depth coupled with the recent construction of a concrete bridge to Koroua Island near Vunavutu changed how they used the river as boats can no longer travel the length of the channel.
Figure 22 Ita Masiwawa completing participatory mapping with Halena Scanlon and Damian Seery.
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Sikeli Tuitogalevu 30 years
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
Vunavutu
The whole of Koroua Island was valued by Sikeli who said that it is important to the wellbeing and prosperity of the community. Koroua island is strongly tied to the history of the people of Vunavutu as their ancestors lived in settlements on the island. The continuation of traditional practices connects the community to their ancestors and each other with Sikeli explaining that Koroua Island is where everyone comes together and works together maintaining relationships that strengthen and bind the community. Sikeli has a farm on the island where he grows cassava, vudi, bele, and other assorted fruits and vegetables. He also catches crabs in the mangroves and fish in the river that primarily feed his family with excess sold within the village. Sikeli was concerned about the influences of modernisation changing the way people use and value the environment as he believed that fewer people are taking up farming and other traditional practices. Educating people, particularly young people, was integral to addressing this issue. Sikeli was also concerned about mining activity in the region and expressed uncertainty regarding what materials were being taken from the island and how the mine will affect the island in the future. He explained that while there had been public meetings between community members and mining representatives, there had been very little information shared regarding the purpose of the mine. He was also angry about people going onto the island
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The Importance of Koroua Island to iTaukei Sigatoka River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
without permission and excavating and dumping soil taken from the river on mangroves, damaging them as a result. The importance of the mangroves on and around Koroua Island was stressed with Sikeli explaining that most of the community sources crabs and shellfish from them. While he does believe that dredging the river reduced the occurrence of floods, it has led to additional issues including erosion and the disappearance of certain fish species.
Figure 23 Tilled field on Koroua Island ready for planting.
6.0 Conclusions This research documents iTaukei social values (uses and values) of Koroua Island and threats to these values. Many of our findings are consistent with those of the 2017 Sigatoka Estuary study. The data show that the island and surrounding area is important to the lives and livelihoods of many iTaukei from the study villages for both tangible and intangible reasons. The wellbeing and prosperity of local communities is strongly connected to the health of Koroua Island. Most participants derive their main sources of sustenance (income and subsistence) from agriculture, fishing and shellfish collection on or around the island. Food gathered from the environment is primarily used for consumption with excess either traded or sold within the village, at roadside stalls or at market. It is evident that Koroua Island is vital to ensuring the food and livelihood security of iTaukei living in the region as well as their extended families living elsewhere. Koroua Island is strongly tied to the heritage, identity and future aspirations of iTaukei in Vunavutu, Nasama and Sigatoka Village. Many of the values assigned to Koroua Island are intangible, such as spiritual or recreational values, and contribute to the identity and wellbeing of both the community and the individual. These connections between people and the island have built up over generations and are strongly associated with traditional practices such as farming and fishing as well as communal and recreational activities. Koroua Island and the surrounding environment are exposed to a number of stressors, which have negative implications for iTaukei lives and livelihoods. These threats include current and potential future sources of threat, both episodic activities like mining and dredging,
and chronic sources like point sources of pollution. Of the threats discussed, mining was the most frequently mentioned by participants. Damage to farmland and mangroves has already occurred as a result of mining activities on and around Koroua Island. The destruction of cultural heritage as a result of this process is devastating to iTaukei connected to the island, representing an immeasurable loss. Should these activities continue, Koroua Island’s ability to provide food and livelihood security will diminish with many participants concerned about future impacts to the environment and community. Participants felt that they had not been adequately included in the decision-making process concerning the mine and related dredging activity. It is evident that greater levels of genuine community participation in Environmental Impact Assessment and decision-making processes concerning landuse is wanted and needed to address identified threats and community concerns. This research shows that iTaukei livelihoods and wellbeing are intimately connected with the health of Koroua Island. iTaukei values are currently threatened by a number of stressors, most which can be addressed through improved consultation and management practices. Our research findings are intended to inform evidence-based decision making in a manner that supports the livelihoods of iTaukei and protects the environment on which they depend.
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Contact Halena Scanlon halenajscanlon@gmail.com
Dr. Tristan Pearce Tristan.Pearce@unbc.ca
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The Importance Koroua to iTaukei Sigatoka Looking west along the beach atof the base ofIsland the Sigatoka Sand Dunes River, Nadroga-Navosa, Fiji
