Kabara
Encyclopedia
Kabara is an island of Fiji
, a member of the Lau
archipelago
. With a land area of 31 km² (12.0 sq mi), its population of some 700 lives in four villages.
The islanders are noted for their craftsmanship in the area of wood carving. Vesi wood, which grows natively on Kabara, is the traditional material, but deforestation
has stripped the island, leaving only 8% of the island covered with Vesi trees. A program of reforestation has been started, but as Vesi trees take 70–80 years to mature, carvers are being encouraged to use as little Vesi wood as possible. Sandalwood
, known locally as yasi, is being promoted as an alternative. Unlike Vesi, sandalwood takes only 30–40 years to mature.
The Fiji Village
news service reported on 28 March 2006 that the World Wide Fund for Nature
had donated thirteen 5000-gallon
water tanks to Kabara, which would likely eliminate water shortages on the island.
A notable native from Kabara was the late wood carver Jone Lupe, whose family have been engaged in the craft for generations.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, a member of the Lau
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
. With a land area of 31 km² (12.0 sq mi), its population of some 700 lives in four villages.
The islanders are noted for their craftsmanship in the area of wood carving. Vesi wood, which grows natively on Kabara, is the traditional material, but deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
has stripped the island, leaving only 8% of the island covered with Vesi trees. A program of reforestation has been started, but as Vesi trees take 70–80 years to mature, carvers are being encouraged to use as little Vesi wood as possible. Sandalwood
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the name of a class of fragrant woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many other aromatic woods they retain their fragrance for decades. As well as using the harvested and cut wood in-situ, essential oils are also extracted...
, known locally as yasi, is being promoted as an alternative. Unlike Vesi, sandalwood takes only 30–40 years to mature.
The Fiji Village
Fiji Village
The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. Published daily, it covers political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items, and also includes the Yellow Bucket commentary, an editorial which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fiji Village owners or staff, according to...
news service reported on 28 March 2006 that the World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
had donated thirteen 5000-gallon
Gallon
The gallon is a measure of volume. Historically it has had many different definitions, but there are three definitions in current use: the imperial gallon which is used in the United Kingdom and semi-officially within Canada, the United States liquid gallon and the lesser used United States dry...
water tanks to Kabara, which would likely eliminate water shortages on the island.
A notable native from Kabara was the late wood carver Jone Lupe, whose family have been engaged in the craft for generations.