Fiji Pine Trust urges people in the West to cease lighting fires near pine trees

The Fiji Pine Trust is urging the general public in the western division to cease lighting fires on vegetation near pine trees during this dry weather condition.

This plea follows a series of complaints from Pine owners in Lololo in Lautoka and also in Nadi where both landowners and the general public are continuously burning down vegetation that leads to the burning of pine trees.

Fiji Pine Trust spokesperson Salesi Vulakoro is stressing that people living along pine belt areas to stop burning down vegetation whether by purpose or by accident.

Vulakoro says people will be taken to task if they are found burning vegetation that may cause bush fires.

He says this is very important for people to be aware of as it may damage the environment, the livestock and the lives of individuals.

Vulakoro adds for farmers residing near pine forests who want to burn down vegetation for farming should contact them and they will make necessary arrangements to avoid the risk of damaging neighbouring pine plantations.