Photo 86 Land Cleared for Airport, Fuvahmulah, June 2011 Table 5.3 Natural Resource Management Practice, Issues and Recommendations, Fuvahmulah Existing Practice Issues Recommendations Wetlands The island has two Waste dumping and Stop all plans for new roads in wetland systems. firewood extraction the wetlands and initiate an continue but appear to be urgent review of the official Very few households declining. Land Use Plan, giving use the wetlands and appropriate consideration to surrounding for Pollution and invasive wetland conservation. generating a cash species are ongoing risks. income; however, many Survey, locate and destroy The biggest threat is households have taro invasive plants such as Nile conversion to urban use, fields on the edges of the Cabbage (also as Water including roads and land wetlands, and these are Lettuce: Pistia stratiotes). reclamation, as shown in important for domestic the approved Land Use Develop and implement food supply. Plan. wetland management plan for The wetlands are both wetlands focused on (i) There are no wetland important for conservation of ecosystem management plans or recreational purposes, functions, (ii) continuation of active management. especially swimming current sustainable livelihood Declaration as protected (see results of uses (taro cultivation), (iii) will be meaningless Household Survey at enhancement of local unless accompanied by Appendix 9 for details). recreational values (swimming, practical management picnicking), and (iv) education actions based on a and awareness as part of a feasible management wider package of plan. environmental education. Low to zero Review and improve the solid opportunities for income waste management system. generation from wetland tourism on Fuvahmulah. Resources In some locations the Increasing demand for Determine safe groundwater shallow freshwater fresh water may cause extraction volumes and aquifer is contaminated salt water intrusion. establish a groundwater by cess pits, sea water abstraction licensing system. and possibly pesticides
Photo 86 Land Cleared for Airport, Fuvahmulah, June 2011 Table 5.3 Natural Resource Management Practice, Issues and Recommendations, Fuvahmulah Existing Practice Issues Recommendations Wetlands The island has two wetland systems. Very few households use the wetlands and surrounding for generating a cash income; however, many households have taro fields on the edges of the wetlands, and these are important for domestic food supply. The wetlands are important for recreational purposes, especially swimming (see results of Household Survey at Appendix 9 for details). Waste dumping and firewood extraction continue but appear to be declining. Pollution and invasive species are ongoing risks. The biggest threat is conversion to urban use, including roads and land reclamation, as shown in the approved Land Use Plan. There are no wetland management plans or active management. Declaration as protected will be meaningless unless accompanied by practical management actions based on a feasible management plan. Low to zero opportunities for income generation from wetland tourism on Fuvahmulah. Stop all plans for new roads in the wetlands and initiate an urgent review of the official Land Use Plan, giving appropriate consideration to wetland conservation. Survey, locate and destroy invasive plants such as Nile Cabbage (also as Water Lettuce: Pistia stratiotes). Develop and implement wetland management plan for both wetlands focused on (i) conservation of ecosystem functions, (ii) continuation of current sustainable livelihood uses (taro cultivation), (iii) enhancement of local recreational values (swimming, picnicking), and (iv) education and awareness as part of a wider package of environmental education. Review and improve the solid waste management system. Resources In some locations the shallow freshwater aquifer is contaminated by cess pits, sea water and possibly pesticides Increasing demand for fresh water may cause salt water intrusion. Determine safe groundwater extraction volumes and establish a groundwater abstraction licensing system.
RP11870v20RP0P00Social000Oct-20110.docx