Approximately 360,000 people from the provinces of Bua, Ra and Macuata will benefit from the implementation of the Fiji Coral Reef Resilience (CRR) Project in the near future.
This, according to Hanna Helsingen, the regional conservation director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
While speaking at the project’s Inception Workshop at Novotel in Lami on Monday, Ms Helsingen said the estimated project cost is about $US30 million ($F68.49m). It will be implemented for about seven years, beginning in 2026, and will include several stakeholders participating in the actual project on the ground.
She added that co-funding was received from Green Climate Fund (GCF), WWF, and in-kind contributions from some of the partners.
Assistant Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna acknowledged the collaborative partnerships created with civil society organisations like WWF.
He also praised research information provided by the academia, innovation from the private sector and planned efforts from government in fighting climate change.
“These alliances are our strongest assets in crafting sustainable solutions, for fostering resilience and securing a better future for our planet and its inhabitants,” Mr Tubuna said.
This project is aimed to implement ecosystem-based adaptation within the Great Sea Reef in Fiji and the coastal ecosystems and strengthen the response of these communities to climate change in reducing adverse impacts, including overfishing, unsustainable production, and ecosystem destruction.
