Natewa Bay is a place of pristine tropical forest and clear ocean water. The Natewa Peninsula is home to many native Fijian birds, mammals, and reptiles, some of them live only on this little finger of land. Several species, such as green and hawksbill marine turtles, are classified as vulnerable or endangered.

Navetau Village sits on the coast near the tip of the peninsula. The only way to get there is by boat or on foot, depending on the tide. But remoteness does not guarantee protection against environmental threats. The village is vulnerable to rising sea levels and storm surges, which is why community members have begun planting mangroves along the shore.

The community is protecting both marine and forest areas for 25 years. The marine area runs about 300 meters along the shore and 150 meters out. In the waters are giant clams, coral trout, sea cucumber, octopus, and many other species. The 800-acre protected forest behind the village contains valuable tropical hardwood trees and is home to two species that live only on the Natewa Peninsula: Natewa silktail bird and the spectacular Natewa swallowtail butterfly.

The practice of designating a tabu on certain marine or forest areas, which keeps them off-limits, is common and well respected in Fiji. They allow fish populations to recover, and forests to serve as crucial watersheds for the communities.

Most village residents eke out a modest living from fishing and small-scale farming. The village is using a Seacology grant to build a village hall to replace the one damaged by a tsunami. The village hall is a building that is at the heart of Fijian village life, open to everyone and used for every kind of gathering.