Protecting the Lau seascape is paramount as climate change is increasingly impacting the coastal communities and marine ecosystems in Fiji.
Ministry of iTaukei Affairs permanent secretary Pita Tagicakirewa said this while opening the Lau Central Division consultation in Suva yesterday.
The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, in partnership with Conservation International, initiated a series of urban consultations with the Lauan diaspora across Fiji between November, 2023 and January, 2024.
The consultations were held in the Northern Division, the Western Division, and yesterday in Suva which brought together members of the Lauan diaspora.
“They’ve done their rounds in Lau, this is the last consultation for Lauans in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu,” he said.
He said last year, the iTaukei Affairs board decided that all the people in Lau needed to be consulted on the Lau seascape initiative as this focused on the Lau seascape’s rich biodiversity, which aligned with Fiji’s commitment to the ’30 x 30′ conservation goal.
“The 30 per cent, that is the Government commitment, they had made that commitment way back in 2005, presently, the Lau seascape contributes an impressive 8 per cent to Fiji’s national goal.
“Last year, government announced at the Ocean Conference in Portugal, that the Lau seascape will contribute 8.26 per cent of the 30 per cent.
“So, the Lau Provincial Council endorsed this initiative way back in 2015, and because the Lau Provincial Council is under the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, the ministry has come on board to support this initiative.
“It is an initiative by chiefs from all 13 tikina from Lau that was taken to the provincial council, endorsed and that is why the ministry and the iTaukei Affairs Board are behind this initiative.”
He said by reaching out to the Lauan diaspora in the urban areas, the ministry and Conservation International were adopting a comprehensive approach as the initiative recognised the importance of diverse viewpoints and expertise, particularly from those who maintain a strong cultural and emotional connection to the Lau region.
