Restoring Wetlands and Weaving Tradition: How Fijian coastal communities are building climate resilience

In Fiji's Bua, Bureta, and Nakorotubu Districts, WCS-Fiji is supporting nature-based solutions to combat climate change and ecosystem degradation. This includes restoring wetlands to cultivate kuta (a native reed) for sustainable women-led weaving enterprises and establishing community-led enforcement groups to protect marine protected areas (MPAs) from illegal fishing. These efforts aim to diversify livelihoods, reduce pressure on overfished coastal waters, and utilize traditional ecological knowledge to safeguard biodiversity and food security.

• WCS-Fiji is revitalizing the traditional craft of weaving kuta (Eleocharis dulcis), a native wetland reed, to provide sustainable income for women in the Bua, Cakaudrove, and Macuata provinces on Vanua Levu Island. The initiative includes restoring wetlands, which serve as a "natural sponge to reduce downstream impacts of pollution on coral reefs" and help stabilize mud and silt to reduce erosion.
• To support the kuta enterprise, WCS-Fiji and the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, and Small and Medium Enterprises conducted a governance and cooperative registration workshop for 133 community members, including 98 women and 41 youth. This led to the formation and registration of the Yasi Boi Yawa Women’s Cooperative.
• To combat illegal fishing and the degradation of climate-resilient reefs, communities in the Bua, Bureta, and Nakorotubu Districts are implementing community surveillance and enforcement. This involves training community members as Honorary Fish Wardens and establishing Enforcement and Compliance groups under District Natural Resource Management Committees.
• Initial community patrols in Bua and Nakorotubu have successfully apprehended individuals for unauthorized fishing, including one person operating without permits in Nakorotubu and a licensed fisher violating terms by fishing in non-consented areas in Bua.

APA

Tabua,, A. C. K. K. T. (2025). Restoring Wetlands and Weaving Tradition: How Fijian coastal communities are building climate resilience. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/restoring-wetlands-in-Fiji-coastal-communities

Chicago

Tabua,, Akanisi Caginitoba,Eferemo Kubunavanua,Isoa Koroiwaqa,Jone Tamanitoakula,Milika. Restoring Wetlands and Weaving Tradition: How Fijian coastal communities are building climate resilience. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/restoring-wetlands-in-Fiji-coastal-communities.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tabua, |first1=Akanisi Caginitoba,Eferemo Kubunavanua,Isoa Koroiwaqa,Jone Tamanitoakula,Milika |title=Restoring Wetlands and Weaving Tradition: How Fijian coastal communities are building climate resilience |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=21 November 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/restoring-wetlands-in-Fiji-coastal-communities |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tabua2025restoring, author = {Tabua,, Akanisi Caginitoba,Eferemo Kubunavanua,Isoa Koroiwaqa,Jone Tamanitoakula,Milika}, title = {{Restoring Wetlands and Weaving Tradition: How Fijian coastal communities are building climate resilience}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/success-story/restoring-wetlands-in-Fiji-coastal-communities}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }