Shangri-La's Fijian Resort & Spa staff and volunteers from the Cuvu District School Environment Club potted and planted more than 300 mangrove seedlings and made two fish houses to mark World Ocean Day that was celebrated globally on Wednesday 8th June.

Twenty eight students from the Cuvu Environment club were split into two groups to take part in the fun filled activities led by Marine Manager, Ms. Mereoni Mataika. The event was held over three hours with mini quizzes which saw each student going home with a prize, mangrove potting along the Yanuca eastern coast and fish house building. To end the day, the children were hosted to refreshments provided by the Resort and a prize giving ceremony for quiz winners.

"Our partnership with the Cuvu District School Environment Club is a critical one as these young people aged between 10-13 years will become future leaders in our community and in Fiji," said Resort general manager, Michael Monks. "We will continue to support and raise awareness of the importance of looking after our environment and we will continue to encourage ongoing partnerships with our communities," Mr Monks said.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Pacific intergovernmental environment organisation congratulates the Shangri-La, Fiji for their efforts in raising awareness on the importance of our Pacific environment. This year SPREP Director, Mr David Sheppard called upon people to "walk the talk" and bring about positive actions to help our environment. This initiative is a positive example from within the private sector that can help make a difference.

"Pacific governments increasingly recognize that sustainable development must be based on effective management of our Pacific environments - on land and at sea. Programmes should build on traditional approaches, such as the Raui system in the Cook Islands, where access to particular resources or areas is forbidden for given periods to ensure protection of natural resources," said Mr. Sheppard in his message.

"Let's celebrate our Pacific success stories to "walk the talk" on the environment."

For more details please contact Ms. Lata Yaqona, Communications Manager, Shangri-La's Fijian Resort and Spa
Email: lata.yaqona@shangri-la.com

Image courtesy of Shangri-La's Fijian Resort and Spa.