Resort aims to protect nature
CASTAWAY Island Resort is paving the way for a new wave of sustainable development and eco-friendly initiatives in a bid to encourage the conservation of its natural environment.
With the launch of its ozone program late last year, the Mamanuca Island property has rolled out a wide range of activities that involve guests and staff members in marine and forest reserve programs.
Resort environmental officer Kolinio Mataiyaga said most of their programs focused on conservation awareness.
“Our ozone initiative was set up to create awareness with our guests about why we are so protective of our environment,” he said.
“This initiative is an action plan that charts a clear course for Castaway to make a positive impact by helping to save and protect the island’s resources through environmental education activities.
“Some of these activities include working with our partners such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Mamanuca
Environment Society which puts together an environment education program to our four primary schools here in the Malolo region.”
He said it was also important to the resort to have a sustainable environment management plan that contributed to a successful business.
“Basically the plan is all about managing natural resources with a particular focus on the effects on the quality of both the current and future generations.
“For Castaway, we have a very high returnee rate and we want to manage and sustain that by ensuring our pristine environment is maintained while also looking for ways to address issues such as coral bleaching and the loss of native trees, herbs and wildlife like the crested iguana.
“Forest management and proper waste management is also a core focus of our natural management plan (NMP) which looks at three ecosystems such as terrestrial, coastal and marine.”
Under the resort’s NMP, the coastal restoration initiative has resulted in the planting of 1780 corals since 2015.