Communities are strongly opposing a proposed tourism project that would destroy one of Suva’s last remaining mangrove areas and threaten biodiversity in the area
Well-known environmental conservationist Reverend James Bhagwan is calling on the Fiji Government to revoke the lease given to a Chinese development company for more than 36 hectares of mangrove forest and land along Queen Elizabeth Drive in Nasese.
He claimed the proposed tourism project would destroy one of Suva’s last remaining mangrove areas and would threaten biodiversity in the area.
He said the company claimed to be building “an integrated tourist development” and people should not take those words at face value.
“We have to be careful of words like integration because it does not mean integrated with the environment, it means integrated activities and businesses,” Bhagwan said.
“I guess out of sight is out of mind because from the road, you don’t see all this biodiversity.
“This is the most significant mangrove area in this part of Suva or Laucala Bay.
“And especially because you don’t see it from the road, you might think that the one at My Suva Park, or just in the front, is all there is.
“But this is where the life is, where it’s nurtured. “And to cut that down is to destroy our future.
“When we think about all the statements we make as a nation or our government makes on our behalf about protecting the planet, this is a carbon sink that we’re about to destroy and the message is simple, we need to protect the biodiversity of Fiji, of Laucala Bay and this will do it.”