Gearing up for landmark Pacific mangrove project
A groundbreaking five-year mangrove research and rejuvenation program, Project Halophyte, has been launched in Suva, Fiji, with support from Swire Shipping.
Published on the 09 September 2024
UNSW's Professor Will Glamore and Dr Andrew Dansie will lead Project Halophyte in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific. Photo: Richard Freeman – UNSW
Project Halophyte will undertake coastal restoration and develop innovative nature-based mangrove solutions in partnership with the Fiji Government and local communities along its coastline.
The collaboration between UNSW Sydney and the University of the South Pacific (USP), led by UNSW’s Dr Andrew Dansie and Professor Will Glamore, is being undertaken within UNSW’s societal impact framework and to support the high ambition of Pacific nations to address climate change.
The university strategy seeks to improve the world by progressing environmental sustainability and resilience, social cohesion, health, and wellbeing, and economic prosperity for all.
“UNSW, USP and Swire Shipping have come together to support a sustainable vision for the future of the Pacific using nature-based solutions,” Prof. Glamore said.
Mangroves are a type of halophyte — a salt-loving plant that grows in or near tidal water sources.
They can store four times more carbon than terrestrial forests. Mangroves take up 5% of global coastal area but sequester around 15% of the coastal carbon.
The loss of mangrove ecosystems in many locations has increased flooding and coastal erosion risk. These degraded coastlines can result in reduced trapping of carbon, declines in marine and freshwater quality, reduced biodiversity and a decrease in sustainable fishing yields.
As well as restoring mangrove habitat, researchers will build mangrove habitats into maritime infrastructure such as pontoons, marinas and breakwaters.
“Our research combines innovative on-ground solutions with big sky research to integrate mangroves into different types of coastal infrastructure,” Professor Glamore said.
“We hope that this project will help ensure that our nature-based solutions will become commonplace across the Pacific.”
The research team will seek to reinstate natural tidal flows and revitalise the local mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of people and the environment.
With their technology, engineered in partnership with UNESCO, the team hopes to reduce deforestation pressure on existing mangrove habitats, improve water quality, store more carbon and even decrease wave energy, providing a natural break for potentially harsh waves.
“Coastal ecosystems provide immense benefits to society and Project Halophyte will implement community-engaged rejuvenation activities and measure benefits to lives and livelihoods that are a result of healthy functioning ecosystems,” Dr Dansie said.
“This includes supporting livelihoods through fishing, tourism, and other areas of income diversification, providing food security through traditional and staple food sources, and increased resilience of coastal and island communities to stay put and thrive in the face of climate change.”
A multidisciplinary team of up to 40 PhD students, early-career researchers, and academic supervisors from Australia and Fiji will collaborate with local communities for the project.
The project is designed to support the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As well as building international environmental science and engineering workforce capacity, the research will position Fiji as a world leader in ambitious and innovative approaches to climate change.
Applications to be part of the program have closed, and the project was recently launched officially in Fiji’s capital, Suva.
Mangroves in Fiji.
Photo: Will Glamore
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