IDENTIFYING landowners who are committed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests’ REDD+ program was one of the key issues discussed at the Fiji National REDD+ Program Planning Workshop on Thursday.

The workshop heard the need to have genuine landowners understand their ecosystem and to conserve it for the future of their children.

Facilitator Christine Fung of German Agency for International Co-operation (GIZ), Fiji, reminded the participants that planning how to identify potential sites and having them mapped was one of their priorities for this year.

She also told participants they needed to find ways to raise awareness and to reach out to the landowners around the country.

Fiji has one REDD+ program site in Emalu, Navosa which was piloted in 2012.

According to REDD+ website, REDD+ provides an alternative to income generating activities that may harm or destroy valuable forests.

Forest owners and local communities are provided with an opportunity to get paid for keeping or properly managing their forests.

It also reduces silt and soil contamination of rivers and waterways and therefore supports healthy reefs and marine habitats; strengthens resilience of local communities living in and in the vicinity of forests to cope with the current and predicted impacts of climate change and related events, and ensure that forest services are maintained or enhanced.

This includes the provision of clean water, wild food in the forest and shelter for indigenous fauna, protection of medicinal plants, provision of building materials, enrichment of soil and regulation of local climate.

The two-day workshop aims to draw up action plans that will ultimately strengthen the regulatory functions of our forests and the multiple benefits that can be realised.

REDD+ is part of Fiji’s contribution towards the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change.