DAOLUSU Community of Ward 30 in Malaita Province will soon embark on a project to rehabilitate their mangrove forests and conserve the marine eco-system of their mangroves.
This has been a dream for George Faubata and his young people of the community for quite a long while.
Faubata, a youth worker of the community, graduated with a Diploma in Youth and Community Studies with the Ola Fou Youth and Community Development program in 2018.
Ola Fou is a training provider for youth workers in the pacific providing courses on youth development and community studies.
Faubataand his young people researched their community needs and realized the depletion of their mangrove forest due to over harvesting as a result of population growth.
Mangrove is a source of livelihood for Daolusu community as it provides for their daily needs.
They are an important source of food and timber for the community.
The mangrove fruit is a delicacy and the mangrove themselves provide a haven for other marine resources like fish, shells and crabs for the community.
It is a different story today; as what they used to enjoy in the past is no longer the case.
With the depletion of their mangroves and the challenges of climate change, their coastal community is also in danger of high tides and strong winds during rainy and stormy weather.
Despite their value, there is evidence to suggest that mangrove forests and the livelihoods of the community that rely on these valuable ecosystems are under threat.
Faubata thought of the future.
What will be there for my children and their children?
How can today’s generation of young leaders invest into something worthwhile for the future of their community?
Faubata highlighted this identified need in his final submission for his diploma requirements with the Ola Fou course.
With their connection with Faubata as a former graduate of the program, Ola Fou secured some funding through the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust to support George and his young people realize their dream of rehabilitating their mangroves and conserving for the future of their community.
The Pacific Development and Conservation Trust made available NZ$18,000.00 for the initiative.
Daolusu community is looking forward to implement their activities soon with the support of key stakeholders to conservation in the country, more specifically in Malaita Province.
Ola Fou Solomons plays a facilitating role in the whole project design.
During a recent community consultation held at Daolusu, elders, men, women and young people alike gave their hearty support for the initiative and are keen to see it take off well from the start.
Community ownership to such important undertaking is essential for the activity’s sustainability and the community members vowed to give their utmost.
Faubata echoes these words in an interview during the community consultation.
“The future of my children and their children is my concern.
“If we can think of them now and do what is right with our available resources, we are building into saving lives and the future of our community is bright.
“I am deeply thankful to the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust for their generosity in supporting this initiative” he concluded.
