German Embassy and GIZ Mark World Mangrove Day with Climate Talk
29 July 2025, Suva, Fiji - The German Embassy and GIZ Pacific commemorated this year’s World Mangrove Day with a Climate Talk held on July 29 at the Novotel Hotel in Lami.
Under the theme “Celebrating Mangroves: Data, Diplomacy & Local Duty”, the event brought together members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and local community representatives.
In his opening address, the German Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Dr. Andreas Prothmann, highlighted Germany’s longstanding partnership with Fiji and the Pacific Island states.
The German Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Dr. Andreas Prothmann
“Mangroves are sacred to the Pacific way of life. They are providers of food, medicine, and cultural heritage. They are also frontline defenders in our climate response absorbing carbon, buffering storm surges, preventing erosion, and sustaining marine biodiversity,” Ambassador Prothmann said.
“As a country deeply committed to climate diplomacy, we recognise that Pacific Island nations are on the frontline of the climate crisis yet also leaders in resilience, innovation, and climate justice.”
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Mosese Bulitavu, in his keynote address, acknowledged Germany’s continued support for Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
He also commended the Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (MACBLUE) project for strengthening national capacity to monitor mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, and for supporting blue carbon stock assessments across key areas in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Mosese Bulitavu
“As Minister, I am committed to using that data to inform national strategies and drive evidence-based policy,” said Hon. Bulitavu.
He added that the Climate Talk gave deeper meaning to both local conservation efforts and global climate action.
“Mangrove conservation is not the work of one sector, but a shared responsibility across generations and disciplines,” he said.
“It begins where mangroves truly live not in maps or plans, but in the hands of our communities, who live with, protect, and depend on these ecosystems every day.”
The event concluded with a visit to the Navakavu Mangrove Sanctuary, where participants took part in an educational tour.
Participants at the Navakavu Mangrove Sanctuary