Drone technology is now being used by the Department of Environment to survey new developments while there are also Environment Management Committees monitoring developments in their area.
This is all part of the important checks now being done to prevent damage to the environment.
There have been questions raised in the past about whether consistent checks have been done to ensure the environment is not damaged when developments have taken place.
One such prominent case is the now failed development on Malolo Island by Freesoul Real Estate (Fiji) PTE Limited.
The company was charged in February last year by the Director of Public Prosecutions for allegedly carrying out developments on the island without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
Before charges were sanctioned by the Director of Public Prosecutions, landowners said that between May and September 2018, a hillside on Malolo Island was stripped, big areas of mangrove destroyed, 2 channels were smashed through the seabed and a timber walkway was built.
Freesoul project in Malolo last year
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment Joshua Wycliffe says the project on Malolo Island was never a gap for the Ministry.
He says the Ministry did its job to the fullest requirement and followed the legislation.
Wycliffe says the Department of Environment prohibited and stopped the Freesoul Project in Malolo twice. He says sometimes developers don't pay attention to the rules or regulations so they continue to do it.
Wycliffe says other agencies were included like the Police and they had to do what they had to do and the case is now in court.
Fijivillage also asked Wycliffe on what has changed since work was stopped in Malolo Island.
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment says that even before Malolo and since the time he has been observing, at every stage things have improved.
He says this includes the use of drone technology to survey new developments and new approvals that have been given to see how rules are being followed.
Wycliffe also says if a project has been approved through the Environment Impact Assessment, they have made it a rule that the project wraps itself around a committee that will monitor the environment.
He says the Environment Management Committees will report to the Department of Environment on a monthly basis.
As part of the process of identifying gaps and narrowing them, the Department of Environment met recently with consultants that carry out Environment Impact Assessments.
Wycliffe says they are encouraging partnerships as there are gaps on all sides.
He says it is important that consultants who are registered with the Department of Environment work with them as they are the first eyes and ears during the first process of development.
Wycliffe says one of the gaps is communication and he hopes this can be improved going forward.
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