The University of the South Pacific’s Blue Carbon Condition Index Project team (B-CABONI) recently conducted a scientific deployment on Lakeba island in the Lau Group, Fiji. Led by researchers from the USP’s Centre for Sustainable Futures (CSF), the team worked closely with the local communities to assess Fiji’s Blue Carbon ecosystems.
The team’s work contributed to ongoing assessments with field studies conducted in two key sites on Lakeba: the mangrove forests of Nukunuku Village and the seagrass meadows of Waciwaci Village both crucial for carbon storage and coastal ecosystem resilience.
The villagers from Nukunuku and Waciwaci took part in collecting data and learning about the work being done, while getting a better understanding of the importance of their mangroves and seagrass areas.
The deployment showcased USP’s growing capacity in the use of cutting-edge environmental survey technologies, with the use of multispectral drones, the team captured high-resolution imagery of mangrove canopies and seagrass beds.
These sensors detect variations in light reflectance across multiple wavelengths, allowing researchers to assess vegetation health, canopy density, and above-ground carbon storage in the top layer of coastal ecosystems.
Complementing this, the team used a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scanner, which uses laser pulses to measure the 3D structure of vegetation. The advancement in technology enabled precise assessment of tree height, trunk volume, and stem-level carbon content, key indicators in estimating total biomass and carbon stocks.
To complete the vertical carbon assessment, soil augers were used to collect samples from below ground. These samples will be analysed in the laboratory to determine carbon concentrations stored in sediments — the often-overlooked but largest carbon pool in Blue Carbon ecosystems.
The B-CABONI project team leader at USP, Dr Hilda Waqa-Sakiti said that to enhance building capacity for the region, the project is currently funding scholarships for two Masters research students who are engaged with this project.
She added the recipients received technical training with experts from our partner collaborators from the University College Cork, Ireland.
Through such initiatives, USP continues to strengthen its role in climate research and sustainable ocean management while promoting the active involvement of local communities in protecting their natural ecosystems.
