EU and GIZ Pacific hands over Mangrove Restoration Programs to the Government of Tonga ^Featured

Now over 600 households in Fo’ui, Ha’avakatolo, Kolovai, ‘Ahau, Kanokupolu and Ha’atafu are safer and better in building resilience against these impacts after the EU-GIZ Coastal Protection Trials project delivered a series of innovative eco-system-based adaptation coastal protection measures.

Based on consultations with local communities, hard and soft measures had been tested and implemented, in an attempt to address the problem of coastal flooding in a sustainable manner. Flood mitigation structures have been constructed in ‘Ahau and Kolovai, sites that are particularly affected by coastal flooding.

A trial groyne made of Sialemohe’ was built to test the effectiveness of the structure in promoting mangrove growth and regeneration. Additionally, mangrove and coastal plant nurseries have been set up in five locations, and mangroves have been successfully restored with the support of communities.

With financing from the European Union (EU) and technical expertise from GIZ over the last four years in designing and implementation, the project was handed over to the Tongan Government today.

The EU Ambassador for the Pacific, HE Sujiro Seam congratulated the Prime Minister, Honorable Pohiva Tu’i’Onetoa for the commissioning of the Kolovai and ‘Ahau seawall. He said, “The Pacific stands as a sentinel against climate change and its associated disasters. This seawall will protect Tonga and its people from deadly and devastating storm surges.

This will save resources, which would have to be spent on relief, recovery and reconstruction after disasters. This support is fully in line with the priority given to the European Green Deal to build a more resilient future worldwide”.

The EU-GIZ Project Manager in Tonga, Mr. Manu Manuofetoa said the success of the project is largely due to the extensive community engagement and awareness conducted over the last four years, which will also ensure its sustainability.

“When people in Tonga talk about coastal protection, they think of a seawall. This project has helped to change the way people think about coastal protection, they start to acknowledge the role of nature in protecting the coast, and them.

After consultation, meetings and trials, communities came to realize the importance of the measures that were put in place; they came to acknowledge and accept them, and took part in implementing them. You can see the difference between before and now, the mangroves are growing and grouping up. We already see the very encouraging results of our work.”

The government of Tonga has commended the efforts made to ensure the protection of local livelihoods through sustainable practices and methods.

“The support of the European Union through the Coastal Protection Trials Project has been critical in enabling communities to strengthen their resilience against climate change, while preserving the Tongan environment.”, said Paula Ma’u, CEO of the Ministry for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC).

The Coastal Protection Trials project in Tonga is part of the EU-GIZ ACSE programme, which has helped people in 15 Pacific Island countries over the last four years address issues relating to climate change adaptation and reducing their dependence on fossil fuels.