Taurama local Api Valu was pleased to see the first National Capital District Mangrove Cleanup Campaign Program carried out in his area today (Saturday 7 November).
Valu, who is originally from Aroma but has resettled with family friends from Taurama, said they once depended entirely on this mangrove habitat for food.
The 52 year old father of four and grandfather of six children said that in the 1980s they caught a lot of tuna to eat from the bay as the mangroves were plentiful and healthy.
Valu explained that crabs and fish normally bred in the mangroves but today they hardly find this source of protein inside the bay.
“We have a high number of people cutting the mangroves and polluting the habitat with rubbish and this makes us very sad.
“This initiative is an eye opener for this generation and we all have come to support it by cleaning up and we look forward to the replanting stage,” he said with a smile.
Close to 100 people including the PNG Defence Force soldiers were involved in the cleanup campaign program.
The program was initiated by CFDA in partnership with Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD), NCDC Waste management, University of PNG and Nambawan Super.