Matava Resort Conservation and the Environment
Matava Resort is a small and intimate getaway designed to blend in with its natural environment. Traditional thatched Fijian bures nestled on the edge of the rainforest look out over the Pacific ocean and Great Astrolabe barrier reef.
It is the resort's policy to minimise our impact on the environment and to promote and support ecologically sound conservation measures in our community.
We try do do this in a number of ways:
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Solar Power
All lighting in the Oceanview accommodation and the main bure is solar powered. The resort office also derives all its power from solar energy.
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The resort does not operate any main generators, only a small emergency back-up generator for the office should the need arise.
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Solar Hot Water
All new-build accommodation is supplied with hot water derived from solar energy. As each of the older style bures are replaced with a new-build Oceanview bure, a solar hot water system is installed. The entire resort should be running on solar heated hot water by the end of 2008.
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Eco - Resonsible on YouTube
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Organic Farm
We minimise the need to import vegetables with associated transportation carbon emissions by maintaining a large organic garden in the resort grounds. In addition, we supply local village farmers with seeds and then purchase the fruit and vegetables from them. Many fruit trees such as banana and papaya are scattered throught the grounds.
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Waste Management
All rubbish is sorted. Food waste is fed to local pigs. We compost as much waste as possible for the organic farm. Plastic and glass bottles are recycled, as are aluminium cans. Batteries and empty aerosol cans are impossible for us to dispose of and we request that guests take these with them to their home country where suitable methods of disposal are available.
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Land Management
We leave areas of land around the resort uncultivated to encourage the growth of native wild flowers and ferns. Part of the resort foreshore is naturally a mangrove shoreline and has been left untouched. Mangroves prevent erosion and provide sanctuary to juvenile fish.
No insecticides or herbicides are used on the property. Any plants found around the resort are native to Kadavu or already found on the island. No foreign plant species are brought in to the island
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Buildings
All resort building structures are built using locally grown pine or hardwoods planted for that purpose. They are then finished using traditional methods of thatching and palm weaving. We do not use local wild hardwood trees for lumber.
All grey water is piped out to rubble drains for flowers and plants. Bures are designed and orientated to benefit from shade and sea breezes for cooling.
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Water
The primary reason for the location of Matava Resort is the abundance of natural spring water. During the drought of 2003, it was one of only two locations on the South of Kadavu island that still had a water supply. The water is naturally filtered through the limestone and is of excellent quality. Nevertheless, rainwater is still collected at certain locations and used to supply the organic garden and suppliment the supply to some of the Oceanview bures.
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Staffing
All resort staff are from local villages. The resort's annual expenditure is directed, wherever possible, to the local community. Obviously, we do have to import some specialised equipment not manufactured on the island or in Fiji but if we can obtain a product locally, we will do so.
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Marine Reserves
Working in conjunction with our neighboring village of Kadavu Koro, we have established a marine reserve from the boundary of the Matava foreshore extending out to encompass the opposite Waya island. This area is protected from any sort of fishing, shell collecting and reef walking.
We have also helped the village of Nacomoto establish a marine reserve in their waters.
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Each time we dive there, we make a contribution to the village. This clearly benefits all parties. The diving is superb, the village gets income and the fish have a sanctuary to breed.
Our divers often dive in the Naiqoro Passage marine reserve and we make further contributions to support this initiative.
Our guests are asked to make a small voluntary contribution to these marine reserves when they check-out. This money is used in their support and to promote marine conservation measures taken by our local villages.
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Education
Each bure contains an information pack which includes advice on how guests can avoid damaging coral and marine life. The main bure has an extensive reference and information folder on coral reefs and their asociated marine life.
Matava Resort is supporting the efforts of local community school Govourners to have the Fiji national curriculum include a class on marine and terrestrial conservation and sustainable resource management.
The new class is expected to begin trialling in all Kadavu Island schools from early January 2008. If it is deemed successful, it will roll out over the whole country and become part of the National Curriculum.
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Diving
We have a 'look but don't touch' diving and snorkeling policy. Diving guests seen to be damaging marine life through uncontrolled buoyancy or willful neglect will not be allowed to continue diving.
Guests touching live coral or marine life will be asked to refrain from doing so. We don't ask twice.
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Gamefishing
The resort has a Tag & Release policy on all billfish other than an obvious World or Fiji National Record. All fish not destined for the dinner plate are released. Matava Resort is a member of the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) and The game boat's skipper is a member and supporter of The Billfish Foundation .
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Pets
The resort has two cats. Both have been 'fixed' so as to prevent the spread of ferral cats and any resultant damage to native bird and reptile life.
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