“MANGROVE REHABILITATION IN VUNAGAMATA”

BFMR 422 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

By: IVARAMI, Ryan

BFMR 4

THE PNG UNIVERSITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES

2015

CONTENTS

DECLARATIONACKNOWLEDGEMENTSABSTRACT1.0 BACKGROUND

1.1 Description of Study Area1.2 Literature Review

1.2.1 Roles of Mangroves1.2.2 General Biology1.2.3 Distribution1.2.4 General Ecology1.2.5 Threats to Mangroves

2.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1 Engaging the community3.2 Site selection3.3 Mangrove Seedling Collection Site3.4 Nursery setup3.5 Long term community participation

4.0 RESULTS4.1 Confirmed site for replanting4.2 A nursery of mangrove seedlings for planting4.3 A member of the community to continue the work4.4 An MOU with Livuan-Reimber LLG to continue the work with the community

5.0 DISCUSSION6.0 RECOMMENDATION and CONCLUSION7.0 REFERENCES8.0 APPENDIX

8.1 Timeline8.2 Budget8.3 Pictures of the Project in progress

DECLARATION

I, IVARAMI, Ryan, do solemnly declare that the work contained in this report has not been previously submitted for assessment or copied from any other sources or materials to the best of my knowledge and capabilities. This report contains my own work except where due reference is made.

Signed…………………………………… Date………………………………..

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I’d like to acknowledge and thank Our Good Lord above. This project started slowly but really gained momentum in God’s own allocated time. Disruptions threatened but the project went ahead with the ups and downs.

Mr. and Mrs. Semi Rebon of Vunagamata village for their welcoming arms and consent to establish the project on their residential premises. They also watched over the project site, seedlings and nursery when I was not present. Without them, frankly, the project wouldn’t exist for they personally initiated the idea and were really open about the idea of mangrove rehabilitation when everyone in their area were reluctant to take the next step. Their attempts of mangrove rehabilitation were half successful but lacking the sufficient knowledge of the mangrove biology, ecology and the zonation’s, species were not planted according to their natural zonations. But, their attempts basically laid the foundations for this project.

The people of Livuan-Riember LLG were also really friendly and helpful. Despite their past bad reputation, the people have showed in my limited time to be open to development and change. May God Bless Vunagamata and Livuan-Reimber LLG as a whole and continue to shower them with blessings for the years to come.

Mrs. Serah Jacob for her consent and guiding help to source seedlings and propagules for the project at Mandress, Inland Baining LLG.

Ms. Ursula Kolkolo, my supervisor, my lecturer, for her tireless effort into my project. Thank you for the words of encouragement, prayers and wise guiding in times where I basically was on the verge of giving up.

Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources staff; Our Head of Department, Mr Aisi Anas for his enthusiasm towards my project and for his understanding. Thelma for always greeting me with a smile and willing help towards booking of transportation to the project site and back and for the priceless help in times when I was harried because of time limitations. Roger and Matthew, our technical officers for patiently helping out and accommodating my requests at the 11th hour.

The drivers of PNG UNRE for driving me to and fro the project site. Many a time, humbly conceding to my requests and patiently waiting for me till I accomplished what I wanted to do each day I spent at the site.

And finally but not forgotten, my fellow colleagues, Mr. Kenneth Macklay, Mr. Jason Bonou, Mr. Patson John, Ms. Naomi Basika, Mr. James Bubun, Mr. Josiah Maino, Mr. Flinders Tawaiyole, Ms Nasain Urapila, Ms. Lynda Dindillo, Ms Magaret Gavuri, Ms. Jireh Leka, Mr Jeremiah Sokaim, Mr Joshua. Many a time, you lifted me up and dragged me onwards, towards accomplishing this project. The helping hand and advices were priceless and greatly appreciated.

ABSTRACT

Mangroves are specialized groups of plants that have adapted to grow in the intertidal zone along tropical and subtropical shorelines. A diverse group of more than twenty (20) different families, they are a highly productive ecosystem providing habitats of a multitude of fauna and unique flora. In PNG alone, they fringe large parts of the coastlines and form extensive strands at the mouths of large rivers including the Fly, Purari and Sepik Rivers. They also occur elsewhere in smaller strands and on sheltered sides of islands in and around PNG. PNG is only second to Indonesia in terms of species diversity with a record of forty-four (44).

Coastal community, whether they are aware or not, depend on mangroves for a lot of their livelihood. With the onset of the increasingly negative effects of climate change and urbanization, mangrove ecosystem degradation is increasing around PNG. Intervention is needed to maintain the ecosystem against this full blown assault on this unique ecosystem. Sadly, rehabilitation and replanting efforts to date have been fragmented and most often failed.

Much study is still need to thoroughly accomplish rehabilitation in PNG. For this study, replanting of mangrove propagules were done along the coastline of Vunagamata village of the Livuan-Reimber LLG, Gazelle District of East New Britain Province. Within a strict budget and timeline, the first steps were undertaken successfully. Much is still to be done to further say rehabilitation but hopefully, the foundations have been laid for future developments in mangrove rehabilitation.

TITLE: “Mangrove Rehabilitation in Vunagamata”

1.0 BACKGROUND

1.1 Description of Study Area

Vunagamata village coastline in the Livuan-Reimber LLG, Gazelle District of East New Britain Province is the proposed area for the project. The area is inhabited by local people who rely mainly on fishing as a source of income and food security. Poor road drainage system have led to flooding of waterways into the sea. Excess soil from ash fall from the volcano has also led to siltation problems, clogging and slowly choking the fringing coral reefs ecosystems in front of the village. Stories from the village elders, have confirmed a decline in fish catches I the recent years.

Since the understanding between the Vunagamata and Vunadawai villagers and the Fisheries Department with the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment, Vudal, came to be, students from the department have been in the villages doing their field practicals and conducting awareness on fisheries and management of the natural resources in the community. Hence, the villagers themselves took to replanting mangrove seedlings along their coastlines. Due to the lack of understanding and knowledge of the mangrove biology and ecology, the seedlings have struggled to survive and the majority of them have long since died. Taking a stroll along the coastline, one can easily identify traces of mangrove forest in the area in the past. Villagers themselves have confirmed that in the past, there were scattered mangrove forests but has long since been over-exploited for firewood by the villagers themselves.

1.2 Literature Review

Mangrove forests are wetland areas that occupy the tidal zone of tropical and subtropical coasts. They are the main vegetation type that occur in the protected inter tidal Mangroves are distributed circumtropically, occurring in 112 countries and territories. Global coverage has been variously estimated at 10 million hectares (Bunt,1992), 14-15 million hectares (Schwambon & Saint-Paul, 1996), and 24 million hectares (Twilley, Chen, & Hargis, 1992) and a recent estimate of over 18 million hectares (Spalding, 1997). Mangrove forests protect tropical coasts from erosion, buffer the impact of storms, act as a sediment trap and fix more carbon dioxide per area than the phytoplankton in tropical seas (Marnane, et al., 2007). For numerous juvenile fish and crustacean species, mangroves act as nurseries supplying adult stocks offshore (Kathiresan & Bingham, 2001). Thus, they are also crucial for the survival of many commercially harvested fish species in tropical estuaries and coastal seas. Throughout the tropics mangroves exist in intertidal areas and are utilized as a habitat by thousands of animal species and as fuel, medicine, food and timber by human coastal populations (Taylor, Ravilious, & Green, 2003).

Competing utilization such as urbanization, shipping, shrimp cultivation, timber industry and fisheries have destroyed large areas of mangroves worldwide. At least 50 % of the area of mangrove forests has been lost in the past decades, mainly due to the conversion of mangroves into shrimp ponds. For the local population, this means the loss of their traditional base of life. If their continued destruction is to be prevented in the future, sustainable forms of management must be found. Although mangroves and their ecosystems have been intensively explored in numerous individual studies, scientific knowledge about their structure, dynamics and resources is still limited.

1.2.1 Roles of Mangroves

Mangroves have three (3) very important roles that we are concerned with as resource managers and conservationist (Marnane, et al., 2007):

I. Coastal Protection: where mangroves have been removed from coastal areas. It has been found that storm surges have reached further inland and coastal erosion and land loss is higher

II. Nutrient Production: probably one of the main reasons why many marine species use the mangroves as a nursery ground for their juveniles. Many of these species are of high commercial value

III. Nutrient Filtering: mangroves often line rivers and creeks, they form a filtering barrier between the land and the sea. They play an important role in preventing sediments from land runoffs from entering the sea, thereby reducing the siltation problems for inshore marine habitats (e.g. fringing coral reefs)

1.2.2 General Biology

Mangroves are generally a group of marine plants. They basically occur between the terrestrial environment and the marine habitat. The intertidal zone is a harsh environment and exhibit a few of the following. The chemical and physical composition of the soil is very variable; the substrate is anaerobic, tidal flooding clears the forest floor from seed establishment and the lack of freshwater for the general survival. Being at the sea front, they are exposed to strong winds and wave action that can readily erode them. The specialized adaptive features of mangroves enable them to overcome and survive the extreme harsh environmental conditions in the intertidal zone (Marnane, et al., 2007).

1.2.3 Distribution

Mangroves are coastal forests found in sheltered estuaries and along river banks and lagoons in 124 tropical and subtropical countries and areas, mainly growing on soft substrates (FAO 2007). They are distributed in the inter-tidal region between the sea and land between approximately 30° N and 30° S latitude. Their global distribution is believed to be delimited by major ocean currents and the 20° C isotherm of seawater in winter and are typically distributed from mean sea level to highest spring tide. The current estimate of mangrove forests of the world is less than half of what it once was and much

of what remains is in a degraded condition (Bosire, Okemwa, & Ochiewo,2012). The global biodiversity distribution on the tropical and subtropical regions of the world is directly proportional to the temperature and rainfall regimes of each region (Marnane, et al., 2007). Generally, as we move away from the tropical areas or the equator, the biological diversity declines. The area including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia has the largest number of mangrove species. Indonesia leads by 45 and PNG is only second with 44 (Marnane, et al., 2007). A country with a very large area of mangroves does not mean it has a large number of species; a small area of mangroves can have a large number of species. Compare in this case Brazil and PNG. A large area of mangroves with one or a few species is known as strand (Marnane, et al., 2007).

COUNTRY NO. OF SPECIES AREA IN km²Pakistan 4 1,683

Japan (only Okinawa) 11 75India 28 5,370

Malaysia 36 6,424Indonesia 45 45,421

Papua New Guinea 44 5,399Australia (Northern) 37 9,695

Solomon Islands 22 No dataVanuatu 15 16

Fiji 9 517Tonga 8 3

New Zealand 1 287Columbia 11 4,975Panama 11 17,008Brazil 7 13,340USA 6 1,990

Mexico 5 9,328

Table 1. Species Diversity versus Area (Marnane, et al., 2007).

Figure 1. Global Distribution of Mangroves (Arthurton, et al.)

Figure 2. Mangrove Distribution worldwide (FAO, 2007).

1.2.4 General Ecology

Mangrove species grow according to their own specialized adaptations. Each species is specially adapted to unique settings. Some can tolerate excess salinity, buffer against strong winds and continuous extreme wave action of the immediate coastline of any area. All these can be summarized into what is known as zonation’s (Marnane, et al., 2007).

Zonation’s can be divided into three main categories (Marnane, et al., 2007):

Sea front-submerged on most tides Middle-between sea shore and land-only submerged by medium and

high tides Mangrove back-only covered by spring or very high tides

As stated, species are distributed according to the zonation’s, correlating with the level of tidal flooding, duration of being submerged, soil, substrate type, amount of salt in the water, salt concentration in the soil/substrate, amount of freshwater input, climate, the geomorphology and substrate/soil characteristics. This includes pH and availability of air/oxygen in the soil (Marnane, et al., 2007).

Identifications of mangroves utilizes a KEY. The key takes into account the structural arrangement of the leaves, flowers, roots and other features for identification

The value of Mangroves and Mangrove ecosystems can be put into two (2) divisions: Direct and Indirect (Marnane, et al., 2007).

DIRECT INDIRECTHuman Uses (e.g. Timber, fire wood, aquaculture, thatch)

Coastal Protection (e.g. Erosion prevention, substrate stabilization, wind break)

Fisheries (e.g. Breeding and nursery grounds for many fishes and invertebrates)

Buffer Zone (e.g. Protection of sea grasses and coral reefs from excess siltation)

Carbon Trade (e.g. Takes in CO₂ and gives out O₂)

Habitat for other organisms (e.g. Bats, lizards, birds)

Table 2. Direct and Indirect Uses of Mangroves (Marnane, et al., 2007).

The three (3) listed above are the most outstanding that but that doesn’t lessen the importance of other values of Mangroves such as Litter Production and bio chemical cycles plus continuous photosynthesis and primary food production. These other values, as described in Marine Resources Training Manual of 2006 are beneficial also to the betterment of the overall life cycle of this planet. And with large destructions of mangroves all over the world, the end results are showing plainly in sea level rising and other global warming results that is continuously pestering the human race now.

1.2.5 Threats to Mangroves

Threats to mangroves can also be divided into two (2) categories: Man-made and Natural.

How does man degrades the mangrove ecological systems (Marnane, et al., 2007)?

Removal of the mangrove ecosystem for settlement Used as rubbish dumps-oil pollution from ships and spill, industries

and silt from mining Construction of roads, causeways, wharves and jetties, seawall

through or by removal of mangroves Land reclamation, construction for tourism facilities, poor drainage

leading to increased soil salinity Human sewerage, urban and industrial effluents leading to oxygen

demanding wastes, Agriculture-discharge and spraying of pesticides and herbicides, heavy metals

Population pressure Lack of educational awareness on the importance and the ecological

functions

Natural causes that also degrades mangroves includes (Marnane, et al., 2007):

Sea level rise resulting from the greenhouse effect and climate change Drought Storms, tsunamis, volcanic activity Soil erosions Diseases Natural die back

Despite mangroves being a highly resilient species, there are limits that it can go. As listed above, these threats are here and is currently destroying the mangrove ecosystems.

2.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The objective is to undertake the following:

a) Identify and survey the project areab) Identify mangrove species that will be able to adapt to the project area

conditions in terms of their biology, ecology, zonation and other relevant information

c) Identify potential mangrove seedlings source area around the Gazelle Peninsular

d) Transport seedlings from the source to the project areae) Conduct an awareness to the community on the importance of mangroves in

the life cycle in the oceans and to life in generalf) Replant mangrove seedlings in the project area using the knowledge of the

mangrove biology, ecology and other vital information to ensure minimum human influence on the rehabilitation process

g) Monitor the seedlings to ensure maximum success of the project

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHOD

The following materials are required in carrying out the work; the stationary needed includes notebooks, clipboards, biros, pencils and erasers for research and also recording down data taken out in the field. Laminated Mangrove Identification Cards were borrowed from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources office of the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment and taken out for field usage. The materials used for the sourcing, nursery and replanting of the seedlings were; polybags, a spade, a bush knife, tape measure, sticky tape, gumboots, a bucket and a digital camera for taking pictures of the whole process of rehabilitation taking place.

3.1 Engaging the community

First, a discussion will be held with the LLG officers (DPI and Fisheries) and landowners to gain their approval and support for the project. If possible, ILG members, clan leaders, village elders will be also be paid a courtesy call also.

3.2 Site selection

Then, the site will be identified with the approval of the all the stakeholders. A walk through the project site will be done to visually identify any problematic areas that will one way or the other affect the success of the project and also which areas will need and cater for the replanting of mangroves. These potential problems will be noted down, and the locations be noted down and research into mangroves will be

done through the internet and the UNRE library plus any other materials borrowed from selected lecturers knowledgeable in mangroves plus any other information that can be gained from the landowner, the locals and the local DPI and Fisheries LLG officers.

Figure 3. A map of Vunagamata village, Gazelle District, East New Britain Province

Project Site: Vunagamata village- Mr & Mrs. Semi Rebon’s residence

3.3 Mangrove Seedling Collection Site

Potential sites for the sourcing of mangrove seedlings will be identified with the help of knowledgeable people. A pilot survey will then be conducted at the source site to identify zonation; distances of each zonation from the shoreline and species of mangroves will be identified in each zonation. Further research will be conducted to gather more data to weigh the pros and cons and pinpoint and avoid mistakes and errors that can occur in the rehabilitation process.

3.4 Nursery setup

Using gumboots, spades, bush knives, buckets and polybags/empty trukai 1 kg rice packets, seedlings shall be carefully taken from their natural environment and transported by vehicle to the project site. The project site will then be readied and replanting will be conducted using information on mangrove biology, ecology and other vital information. The results of the pilot survey shall be taken into consideration during this process and during the monitoring phase after the planting of the seedlings in the project area. Monitoring shall be done weekly of the seedlings.

3.5 Long term community participation

Before all these activities take place, suitable candidates from the community shall be identified to accompany the team so vital knowledge can be passed to the community and monitoring can continue after this author completes the following steps and returns to his studies at the university of Natural Resources and Environment, Vudal and complete his school year. This shall be done to ensure the rehabilitation of mangroves at Vunagamata does not end there but will be ongoing and aim for success in the years to come. It also an aim for this project to be a model for mangrove rehabilitation in this province of East New Britain and possibly the New Guinea Islands Region and also the country as a whole.

4.0 RESULTS

4.1 Confirmed site for replanting

With the approval of Mr and Mrs. Semi Rebon, the creek next to their home in Vunagamata village, flowing out into the sea will be used for the project of rehabilitating. The area will be left untouched as much as possible so the rehabilitation process will not disturb the normal flow of the surrounding ecosystem. Below is a picture of the site. Refer to the Appendix for more pictures of the Project site.

4.2 A nursery of mangrove seedlings for planting

The nursery was constructed with two (2) logs of coconut tree and the stems of the coconut fronds to separate the three (3) different species of mangrove used for the rehabilitation process. For more pictures of the nursery, please refer to the Appendix. Below is a Smart Art depiction of the site and the nursery plus a few pictures of the nursery.

It was basically decided that nursery be easily mobile in the case of flooding, etc. Since the seedlings were transported from a totally different area to the project site to plant, as much as possible, it was decided to expose the seedlings to the environment of Vunagamata so they could adjust to the conditions. Out of the ordinary of the normal nursery process but something thought to be best to ensure survival of the seedlings. Though detailed scientific analysis was not done on the progress due to the time available.

Figure 4. The mouth of the freshwater creek.

Figure 5. The mouth of the freshwater creek flowing into the sea

Figure 6. Sketched Map of the Project Site showing the nursery at Vunagamata

Mr. and Mrs. Semi Rebon’s fenced area Freshwater

Creek

Beach Potato

Saltwater Intrusion

Trees, Shrubs, etc.

Mr. and Mrs. Semi Rebon’s residential area Nursery

Figure 7. Nursery

Mangrove seedlings potted into polybags, arranged according to species.

Freshwater flowing from the creek

Saltwater Intrusion from the beachfront

Nypa frutican seed (Mangrove Palm)

Mixture of sand and mud from the source (Mandress) and mixture of sand and mud from the project site (Vunagamata)

Propagule (R. stylosa, R. apiculata, B. gymnorrhiza)

4.3 A member of the community to continue the work

Mangrove rehabilitation is not a short term project where once the seedlings and propagules have been planted, one can just let nature takes its course. One can do that, but, the fact we need mangrove rehabilitation to take place, sends the message for continuous monitoring of the project. Not only is this a one of the kind in the province. We can say, the first of its kind to actually apply respective technical and scientific knowledge to accomplish mangrove rehabilitation in the province. Rabaul district have taken steps along the path but their project is still need in the process. What has been done so far is accessing knowledge from the Fisheries Department. The long term vision for this project is for the whole province to benefit from the technical and scientific knowledge input into this project.

While the project is in its initial stages, a member of the community shall be attached to the team to gain sufficient technical plus scientific knowledge to carry on the project long after this student has graduated from the Bachelor Degree in Fisheries and Marine Resources program. This said community member shall be in charge of monitoring the nursery and the replanting for as long it takes for the rehabilitation process needs to be carried out and for the project to succeed in the years to come.

4.4 An MOU with Livuan-Reimber LLG to continue the work with the community

Recently, the clans of Livuan-Reimber LLG have come together to form and register an Integrated Land Group (ILG) with the government. This action has paved way for an efficient way to come to understandable terms with any indigenous group.

The PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment, Vudal stand to gain advantage if a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) can be drafted between the University and the ILG of Livuan-Reimber LLG. Students of both the Fisheries and Agriculture can actually take field trips out to the community to put to practice whichever theory and learnt in class, into practice. A firsthand experience of dealing with the community and their resources. For both courses are more practical oriented. Almost all the students graduating from the university shall end up doing actual field work than sit in offices.

5.0 DISCUSSION

Now, more than ever, mangrove rehabilitation is needed for mangroves are one of the most threatened habitats in the world: at least 35% of the area of mangrove forest has been lost in the past two decades (Marnane, et al., 2007). The losses exceed those of coral reefs and tropical rain forests. In East New Britain Province alone, urbanization has reclaimed what was mangrove ecosystem and settlements sprung up in its place.

Living at the interface between land and sea, mangroves are well adapted to deal with natural stressors (e.g., temperature, salinity, anoxia, UV). However, because they live close to their tolerance limits, they may be particularly sensitive to disturbances like those created by human activities. Because of their proximity to population centers, mangroves have historically been favored sites for sewage disposal. Industrial effluents have contributed to heavy metal contamination in the sediments. Oil

from spills and from petroleum production has flowed into many mangrove ecosystems (Kathiresan &Bingham, 2001).

Habitat destruction through human encroachment has been the primary cause of mangrove loss. Diversion of freshwater for irrigation and land reclamation has destroyed extensive mangrove forests. In the past several decades, numerous tracts of mangrove have been converted for aquaculture, fundamentally altering the nature of the habitat. Take for example, in China alone, population growth have been negative for this ecosystem alone. Hundreds of kilometers of mangrove ecosystems have been chopped down to cater for aquaculture. Though China may be leading the world in aquaculture, they have been basically destroyed their mangrove ecosystems to develop aquaculture. Measurements reveal alarming levels of mangrove destruction (Kathiresan & Bingham, 2001). Some estimates put global loss rates at one million ha y-1, with mangroves in some regions in danger of complete collapse. Heavy historical exploitation of mangroves has left many remaining habitats severely damaged (Kathiresan & Bingham, 2001).

These impacts are likely to continue, and worsen, as human populations expand further. In regions where mangrove removal has produced significant environmental problems, efforts are underway to launch mangrove agroforestry and agriculture projects (Kathiresan & Bingham, 2001). Mangrove systems require intensive care to save threatened areas. So far, conservation and management efforts lag behind the destruction; there is still much to learn about proper management and sustainable harvesting of mangrove forests (Kathiresan & Bingham, 2001).

Seedlings and propagules of Rhizophora stylosa, Rhizophora articulata, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Nypa frutican were collected from Mandress, for replanting at Vunagamata. Though, the mangrove species of Mandress share almost exact environmental conditions of Vunagamata, it was decided to nurse the seedling and propagules, mixing the soil-substrate compositions of each locations in order the respective seedling and propagules to further adapt to the new location’s conditions. So far, the Rhizopora and Bruguiera species have responded well to this method and have started shooting new roots thus showing the resiliency of the mangrove species. The Nypa frutican seeds still have to show signs of adaptations. Due to time restrictions and disturbances from external factors-academic wise, nursery was constructed in a way where, nothing of the natural environment of Vunagamata was disturbed as much as possible. And as simple as we could, the nursery was constructed, nursing the seeds and propagules in the freshwater stream, located in the project site, with steady influx of saltwater from the sea.

What has been accomplished so far is the replanting of mangroves propagules: Rhizophora stylosa, Rhizophora articulata and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza were planted as of Friday 9th October, 2015. Nypa frutican seeds are still germinating in the nursery. It was decided against planting the Nypa in order for it to fully adapt to the environmental conditions of Vunagamata before it can successfully be replanted, thus, the importance of a selected community member to succeed the author of this paper in carrying out the rehabilitation process at Vunagamata.

One might ask: Why? Why Vunagamata?A visual observation of the Vunagamata coastline and a dive through the coastal waters, one will find dead coral reefs, half dead looking sea grass meadows in a very turbid seawater environment. Very few fish can be spotted swimming about. This is Papua New Guinea, this is where biodiversity is very high in the marine ecosystems. From just this visual observations, one can conclude that the marine ecosystem is degraded. The reasons are listed above in the literature reviews and the all this observed are sure signs of both man-made and natural causes to this degradation. Take yourself to a place in the world with pristine coral and seagrass ecosystems, rich in biodiversity, let me assure you, just around the corner or connected to and maintaining the pristine environment, is the mangrove ecosystem. These three (3) ecosystem shall ALWAYS work together. It is a sane philosophy that all life is connected to their own levels, such is with mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. Putting theory into practice, as a fisheries student of the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment, Vudal,

mangrove rehabilitation came into being after continuous visual observation from the numerous field trips down to the Livuan-Reimber LLG. The villagers have tried mangrove rehabilitation in the past but probably due to the lack of understanding, the project failed. The result, their seedlings they replanted died. Fisheries, their main source of income, rehabilitation must take place in order for the survival of the future generations.

6.0 RECOMMENDATION and CONCLUSION

It is strongly recommended that students of the Fisheries Department next year continue the project. Maybe this time, in a more scientific approach. I’d like to stress once again, conservation and management efforts lag behind the destruction; there is still much to learn about proper management and sustainable harvesting of mangrove forests. Humans stand to benefit much from mangroves. As stated, mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs are all inter-related. Visual observation has the marine environment of Vunagamata under intense degradation. This is the first step, to rehabilitate mangroves. Once this has been accomplished, the next are the coral reefs and seagrass meadows of Livuan-Reimber LLG. East New Britain Province should be model province in fisheries and marine resources for located in the province is the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment where courses of Fisheries Science, Agriculture Science, Forestry, Aquaculture, Community Based Management and so on are being offered under these two (2) main strands: Agriculture and Fisheries and Marine Resources. The students are gaining much in theory but to breed better didimans of the fisheries and agriculture fields, the students need to be supervised and exposed to practical-field work. In much more simpler terms, put theory in practice. The students are walking goldmines of information for the province before they graduate and go out to their respective countries and provinces.

But, of course, before this all can be done, awareness must be done to all communities along the coastline of not only Livuan-Reimber LLG but the whole province. A lot of destruction to the mangroves nowadays is because the local people don’t know what they are doing can destroy their chance of survival in the future. Take for example, the Livuan-Reimber LLG community, in the past resorted to destructive fishing styles of dynamites and poison ropes. And these has degraded their waters. A few awareness’s from local fisheries authorities and recent ones from the students of PNG UNRE has put a stop to these practices and laws have been initiated to curb this practices. But the destruction has been done, now, fishermen of the LLG travel distances to get a good catch.

With a MOU between the provincial government and respective ILGs around the province, much can be accomplished. Nothing can be started big, from the top. Everything starts from the roots, from small insignificant beginnings. MOU are the way forward. Start small, train the students here, develop the province, and the theory plus the practical knowledge they gain from it all, shall be taken back to their respective countries and provinces to further develop this country and our fellow Pacifican nations.

The villager themselves, of Livuan-Reimber LLG, have taken steps to rehabilitate but lack the knowledge. The fisheries department of Rabaul District have taken their steps towards mangrove rehabilitation but there is still much work to done. And these steps have been taken, bravely blazing a trail into previously unexplored waters of ecosystem rehabilitation in the province. I recommend PNG UNRE to take steps to approach the respective parties and help them along to accomplish their goals for PNG UNRE is all about natural resources and environment. Many a time, excuses of budget have been given and such, procrastination will only bring failure and further degradation of what PNG UNRE is teaching.

This is an example, for within time limits and very strict budget, something small has been achieved which can serve as a start of something. Periodical monitoring of the seedlings by the Fisheries Department is highly recommended for time limit and budget restrictions, mainly time limit, has restricted the recruitment and training of local community member to carry on the project and watch it through to success.

The owner of the project area, Mr Semi Rebon, who is also the local ILG Chairman has expressed interest in the fisheries field of UNRE and its benefits, if a MOU can be reached between the ILG and PNG UNRE. It is also highly recommend that a MOU be reached for the benefit of not only the community of Livuan-Reimber LLG but also the students of PNG UNRE in the “putting theory into practice” thought.

7.0 REFERENCES

Arthurton, R., Korateng, K., Forbes, T., Snoussi, M., Kitheka, J., Robinson, J., & Shah, N. (n.d.). Chapter 5 Coastal and Marine Environments. In R. Arthurton, & K. Korateng, Environmental State and Trends: 20 year retrospective.

Bosire, O., Okemwa, G., & Ochiewo, J. (2012). Mangrove linkages to Coral Reef and Seagrass Ecosystem in Mombasa and Takaungu, Kenya. Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation.

Bunt, J. (1992). Introduction. In A. Robertson, & D. Alongi, Tropical Mangrove Ecosystem (pp. 1-6). Washington DC: American Geophysical Union.

FAO. (2007). The world’s mangroves 1980–2005. Rome: FAO Forestry Paper 153.

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8.0 APPENDIX

8.1 Timeline

Shown below is a timeline showing how each objectives will be achieved according to the time given according to this course, BFMR 422: Individual Projects.

WEEK ACTIVITY DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 712 Choosing of

Projects: Mangrove

Rehabilitation in Vunagamata

3 Meet landowners.

Achieve Objectives 1-4.

4 Project Proposal due

5 Achieve Objectives 4-6.

6 Literature Review Due.

Achieve Objectives 7.

7 Supervisors Progress Report. Achieve

Objective 7.8 Achieve

Objective 7.9 Achieve

Objective 6-7. Start preparing Seminar slides

10 Drafting of Project Report.

11 Finalize Project Report and Seminar

slides. Seminar.

12 Seminar

13 Finalize Project Report

14 Finalize Project Report.

(electronic)

8.2 Budget

Shown below is a budget showing materials needed for this little project to lift off from the ground according to the budget given according to this course, BFMR 422: Individual Projects.

ITEM DESCRIPTION QUANTITY UNIT COST TOTAL COST

Stationery 96 pages Exercise Book

2x K 2.00 K 4.00

Biros (black and blue)

K 1.80 K 3.60

Pencil K 2.00 K 4.00Eraser K 0.70 K 1.40Masking Tape K 5.00 K 15.00Clipboard K 10.00 K 10.0050 m Tape Measure

K 10.00 K 10.00

Polybags K 2.50 K 125.00Spade K 25.00 K 50.00Bucket K 14.00 K 14.00Bush knife K 13.00 K 13.00Gumboots K 30.00 K 60.00Digital Camera

Reliable Brand K 600.00 K 600.00

Miscellaneous K 90.00GRAND TOTAL

K 1,000.00

8.3 Pictures of the Project in progress

Figure 8. Salt water inlet into the freshwater stream of the project site.

Figure 9. Nursery of the Nypa fruticans and R. stylosa at the project site.

Figure 10. Propagules spread into each species for the project

Figure 11. An example of a Bruguiera gymnorrhiza propagule

Figure 12. An example of a Nypa frutican seed bunch

Figure 13. An example of a Rhizophora stylosa propagule.

Figure 14. An example of a Nypa frutican seed.

Figure 15. A table of the different types of root system of the Mangrove species

Figure 16. An example of the rooting system of the Nypa frutican species

Figure 17. Examples of rooting systems found in Mandress

Figure 18. Example of zonation in Mandress with the Rhizophora species in the front with light green leaves. Taller trees at the back are of the Bruguiera species with dark green leaves.