Fiji has collectively planted 1 million trees in 10 months - Naiqamu

Fiji has collectively planted 1 million trees in 10 months.

Minister for Forestry, Osea Naiqamu says this achievement needs to be celebrated for several reasons as it reflects Fiji’s determination to protect our environment, water sources, and coastal communities.

Naiqamu says the people of Fiji, the United Nations Secretary General and many other dignitaries have contributed to planting an average of 100,000 trees per month for the past 10 months.

Naiqamu says given the seriousness and the urgency to address climate change, the Fijian Government has now increased their tree-planting target from 4 Million Trees in 4 Years to 30 Million Trees in 15-Years.

He says they have allocated about 60% of their staff and both finances and assets like vehicles, specifically to plant trees and help address climate change while also growing our economy.

Naiqamu says they are aiming to outsource at least 20 percent of planting material to the private sector to encourage their active involvement.

He says this will also strengthen its effort to facilitate the private sectors ability to grow the economy from our forest resources, in a sustainable approach.

Naiqamu says this initiative depicts the Fijian Government’s ultimate goal of building a prosperous, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable Nation.

Naiqamu has thanked President ,Jioji Konrote for continuing to champion tree planting in virtually all the places he has visited around the country.

He had also thanked the Vanua and the landowners in the 14 Provinces for giving their land and agreeing to partner with Government in this significant responsibility.

He says this massive tree-planting initiative is also part of Government’s responsibility to know that without a habitable planet for our children to inherit, all of our work to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be futile.