USP engages with local communities to get site on eco-tourism heritage map
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 | Buried history- mapping fossiliferous (or ‘archaeological’) deposits at the new ecotourism heritage site, the Volivoli caves |
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The University of the South Pacific, in line with its Strategic Plan 2013-2018, is pursuing and promoting the University’s priority areas on regional and community engagement and advancing research to address key issues in the Pacific region, such as environmental issues.
The USP Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) has successfully engaged with members of the Volivoli community in Sigatoka, to get the historic Volivoli caves recognised as an ecotourism site, while at the same time, drawing out publications on the historic geographical significance of the caves.
Fiji’s Attorney-General and Minister for Tourism, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, opened the new Volivoli Cave Eco-Tourist Site on Saturday, 6 July, 2013, and stressed the importance of such ventures for sustainable development.
Senior Lecturer at the School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment (SGESE), Dr Mark Stephens, who has been at the forefront of getting the site acknowledged as an ecotourism spot, says that it is the most significant fossil site in Fiji, as it contains remains of extinct large animals.
According to Dr Stephens, “the cave is the most important site in Fiji to contain the remains of large extinct megafauna (large animals) including: a crocodilian, a tortoise, a giant iguana, (Lapitiguana), a boid snake, three species of frog (Platymantis spp.) and several birds, including a previously unknown giant megapode (Megavitiornis) and a giant pigeon (Natunaornis)”.
Together with his colleagues, he has been working with the landowners since 2009 to prepare the site for ecotourism, also referred to as ‘geotourism’. Together they have developed and implemented a geoconservation plan for the site which included:
• Mapping and comparison to previous mapping carried out 13 years previously to assess erosion rates;
• Installation of a drainage system to divert water away from important archaeological deposits;
• Implementation of a walkway to allow safe access;
• Production of a notice board displaying accurate scientific information;
• Preliminary survey of the invertebrate fauna to assess cave health; and
• Monitoring effects of large groups of people entering the cave on CO2 levels (toxicity.
The FSTE has generously provided research funds for the geoconservation project.
Dr Stephens, together with two former USP academics, Dr Simon Hodge and Mr Jessy Paquette, has also recently published an article on the project titled Geoconservation of Volivoli Cave, Fiji: A Prehistoric Heritage Site of National Significance, in the international journal, Geo Heritage.
“I feel the site will provide important niche tourism and is an excellent resource for further research and educational fieldtrips as it is ideally situated just off the Queen’s Highway,” he added.
Dr Stephens is currently doing research on long-term climate change in the cave by studying the chemistry of its stalagmites, in collaboration with the University of London, also funded by USP.
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