Fiji’s Forestry Emission Reductions (ER) program is designed to maximise climate benefits and integrate initiatives aimed to contribute to building a more climate-resilient nation.
Ministry of iTaukei Affairs permanent secretary Pita Tagicakirewa said the ministry had been a staunch supporter of Fiji’s National REDD+ program since 2009 through the readiness phase and now the implementation of Fiji’s ER program.
He said communities in Fiji were highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and these were projected to further intensify.
“Fiji’s ER program does not prevent or restrict the forest owners in the use of land and forest resources to support their immediate and future needs and community level development plans,” he said.
“Rather it champions the concept of sustainable development which means improving the business as usual methods to standards that ensure forests are able to perform their natural ecological function of providing clean water and air.
In each of the ER-program activities, trees will either be reintroduced into degraded land systems or retained in their natural state.”
He said the benefit for landowners was that it would provide an alternative income stream through carbon payments if they wished to participate.
