WITH the readily available resources that Government is providing in regards to the 4 Million Trees in 4 Years initiative, there is no excuse not to toil the land.
Chiefs, heads of landowning units and villagers in the Ba, Nadroga and Naitasiri province have welcomed the idea behind the initiative that was launched by President Jioji Konrote on January 8.
Naqara Village chief, Ratu Uraia Rakavono in receiving the Ministry of Forests delegation headed by the Minister for Forests Osea Naiqamu, on Wednesday, said he was overwhelmed with the initiative because it encouraged villagers to toil the land by planting more trees for their own benefit and that of their future generation.
“Do not be short-sighted and think of yourselves. Think about your children and their children and the generation that will follow in years to come,” Mr Rakavono said.
“We can plant more trees and support this great initiative by the Ministry of Forests if we work together and set our minds to it.”
Ever since the initiative was launched on January 8, Mr Naiqamu has taken it out to grassroots communities with the theme “Plant for Fiji and Plant for the Future”.
Navutu Village headman in the tikina of Navuakece, Naitasiri, Ratu Meli Muakalou said the fact the Mr Naiqamu and his officials slept over in the village after consultation about the initiative had challenged them in the sense that climate change was a fight all need to take on.
“The challenge is on us to reach out to the ministry for all the assistance we can get in order to plant more trees in our village for the benefit of our children and those that will come after them, “Mr Muakalou said.
Mr Muakalou said there was land that had been lying idle available which would be made use of under this initiative.
“I think this initiative is great as we will make use of our land and not only that we do not have to lease it to Government but instead Government will assist us all the way in ensuring the seedlings planted will grow to its full potential.”
Nacokaika Village chief, Ratu Akuila Vakadranu was overwhelmed with Mr Naiqamu’s presence on Tuesday.
“So far only two government ministers have graced this village — first was the former Minister for Education Filipe Bole, who came to open the school and second the former Speaker of Parliament Jiko Luveni who was then the Minister for Women and she came to open the community hall which was a project by the village women and now Mr Naiqamu is the third,” Mr Vakadranu said.
“We feel so privileged that Mr Naiqamu has spent at least three hours consulting with us and for him to bring the initiative right to our doorstep shows the importance behind the initiative and what it aims to achieve in this fight against climate change.”
“Having Mr Naiqamu here in our village is like having God and we are honoured with his presence and most importantly we will support this great initiative of planting 4 Million Trees in 4 Years.”
Mr Vakadranu said planting 4 Million trees in 4 Years, let alone 1 million in 1 year is a mammoth task but if the people of Fiji unite and work together in planting more trees, we will be giving our children and the future generation a cleaner and safe environment.
- Melaia Katonivualiku is the public relations officer for the Ministry of Forests. The views expressed are the author’s and not of this newspaper.
