The rangers protect the sand dunes from climate threats

Through collaboration, awareness campaigns, and community participation, the project aims to create a relationship between people and nature. The project focuses on three main objectives:

1. Forest Restoration and Invasive Species Management: Establish three forest restoration sites, engage 80% of the community in agroforestry, and reduce five invasive species in the Sigatoka Sand Dunes ecosystem. Efforts include selecting restoration locations, setting up a nursery, managing planting stock, and creating an invasive species action plan.
2. Fire Prevention: Protect the ecosystem by creating three natural fire buffer zones around the dunes and an additional western barrier. A fire management plan will guide species selection and prioritize actions for these zones.
3. Community Awareness and Climate Action: Increase awareness and foster adaptation through activities like publishing an ethnobotany study, involving communities in agri-nursery and waste management, and hosting educational events under the Heritage in Young Hands programme, which engages primary school students in environmental stewardship.

Significant progress has been made, including stakeholder visits to project sites. Upcoming activities include finalizing training materials, starting replanting efforts, and training the team in drone surveys with a multispectral camera.