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**Fijian Village Tackles Climate Change with Community-Led Action**

**Savusavu Bay, Fiji** – The village of Nagigi, nestled on Fiji’s Vanua Levu island, is facing the harsh realities of climate change, including rising sea levels, declining fish stocks, and more frequent extreme weather events. While many portray Pacific Island communities as passive victims, new research highlights the proactive adaptation strategies underway in Nagigi, demonstrating resilience and ingenuity.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland spent time in Nagigi and Bia-I-Cake speaking with residents, learning about the issues and local adaptations. The researchers highlight that the ocean is intrinsic to community identity. Residents report receding coastlines and changes to marine ecosystems impacting fishing and food security.

One notable example is the leadership of women in the small Bia-I-Cake settlement. Recognizing the decline in wild fish populations, the Bia-I-Cake Women’s Cooperative launched a small-scale aquaculture project, farming tilapia and carp to provide alternative food sources and livelihoods. Supported by grants from the United Nations Development Programme and Women’s Fund Fiji, the cooperative has expanded its efforts, planting mangroves to combat coastal erosion and building a greenhouse for new crops.

The community’s adaptation strategies draw on traditional Fijian values, emphasizing stewardship of natural resources and collective decision-making. Villagers have temporarily closed customary fishing grounds to allow fish populations to recover and are considering establishing a locally-managed marine area.

While acknowledging that adaptation efforts are not evenly distributed, the study underscores the importance of supporting and scaling up local initiatives like those in Nagigi. Researchers emphasize that these communities are not just sites of loss, but collectives of strength, agency, and ingenuity. Nagigi’s example serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating how communities can leverage their traditions, resources, and unity to navigate the challenges of climate change and build a more resilient future.

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