Tonga Cabinet approves R2R’s Fanga’uta Stewardship Plan

Cabinet has endorsed the revised plan of Fanga’uta Management Plan at its meeting in Nuku’alofa.

The “Fanga’uta Stewardship Plan – A Healthy Lagoon Reflects a Healthy Land and People” is to be published in the Government Gazette.

A statement said this marks another milestone for the Tonga Ridge To Reef Project, since the project’s inception here in Tonga in 2015.

The Director of Environment Lupe Matoto said Cabinet’s endorsement is a plus for the R2R Project and the overall management of Fanga’uta.

“This will become the document which we will use as the guide to help us better manage Fanga’uta,” she said.

The Plan has been in process for some months, with the draft discussed at the various levels of the Fanga’uta 26 communities, committees, including the Project Steering Committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni.

Work is now ongoing in translating the approved Plan for wide education of the communities within the Fanga’uta Lagoon Catchment area and the sourcing of funds to help the management in the years ahead.

The R2R Project team would like to acknowledge the input and support of all individuals and stakeholders who have helped in the drafting, editing and finalising of the Plan.

The R2R Project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded through GEF.
   
Source: R2R Tonga/Environment Dept