Tribewanted: Vorovoro

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Environmental Systems Advisor Sarah Bell

Dr. Sarah Bell is an engineer and social researcher in UCL’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Together with her colleagues and students on the MSc in Environmental Systems Engineering, she will be advising the tribe on environmental technologies and management for Vorovoro Island. Sarah’s career has focussed on providing sustainable solutions to environmental problems ranging from agriculture and aluminium smelting to urban water supplies. Originally from Australia, Sarah is part of a dynamic, international team at UCL who are excited by the chance to be involved in such a revolutionary project.

‘Vorovoro Island is a real opportunity to implement leading edge environmental practices and leave a legacy of sustainability for the local community. We are looking forward to working with Tribe Members to design systems which will allow them to tread lightly on the island while enjoying a unique travel experience’.

The environmental engineers at UCL will help the tribe to live by that old eco-traveller saying ‘leave only footprints, take only photographs’.

Find out more about the UCL’s Civil & Environmental Engineering department.

Find out more about the <u>MSc in Environmental Systems Engineering course.</u>

We have an engaged in an exciting partnership with University College London, take a look: University College London partners with Tribewanted. – UCL Env Mgt.doc

Island Environment*

Adventure Island is a spectacular eruption of land; a short plane, bus and boat ride from Fiji’s international airport. Over 200 acres of cliff-topped jungle and palm-fringed paradise surges out of the crystal blue South Pacific ocean.

The island lies to the drier side of Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu. Its leeward (southern) side is characterized by high ridges, interspersed with cave formations separated by mangrove ecosystems and a secluded beach. This side of Vorovoro faces the Vanua Levu and the estuary leading to the Labasa River which provides an alternative route to Labasa. (Labasa is Fiji’s fourth largest town with a population in the up of twenty five thousand citizens).

The island has marked high ridges of rocky formation running along the island like a backbone that is almost continuous. Where there is a break, the valley provides the much needed flat land suitable for crop cultivation, buildings and tribal living! The valley is densely covered with coconut palms and other tropical fruit tees such as papaya and citrus. The valley’s rich loamy soil has served the subsistence needs of the Tui Mali’s family well during the years. Overall the ridge cover is generally that of a talasiga one consisting of intermittent grass patches and canopy of no more than five meters high. However, there are few large trees but mainly in the ravines.

We will be shortly completing an Environmental Impact Assessment on the island which will give us a full report on the environment, where we can build, grow, and develop. More info to appear here soon!