Construction funding secured for 6 naturebased seawalls

The Ministry of Waterways has secured funding through the KIWA initiative award to construct six nature-based seawalls that will safeguard and protect vulnerable communities facing the brunt of sea level rise.

Minister responsible Mahendra Reddy said the KIWA Initiative Award was a substantial effort towards coastal erosion management and environmental rehabilitation using nature-based solutions.

It was an award administered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to the Ministry of Waterways.

He said the award of nearly $700,000 would assist the Government mitigate six project sites; three on Mali Island, Somosomo Village, Navola Village and Navolau No.1 Village susceptible to coastal flooding and erosion.

He said the funding would rehabilitate an approximate 1.6kilometre (1600m) of the vulnerable coast, including bouldering and backfiling, as well as the planting of mangroves.

Minister Reddy said the ministry had identified a total population beneficiary of 1500 of which 45 per cent were women.