A three-year reforestation project in villages on Vanua Levu has been described as the best method to cushion climate change impacts.
Funded by the European Union and the Pacific Island Forest Restoration, 14 communities started replanting trees after the launching of the project on Nukubati private island in November 2020. Two years later, the villagers have applauded the initiative and support that has been spearheaded by Labasa-based Community Centred Conservation (C3).
The project with its theme, “Increasing Climate Change Resilence in Remote Coastal Communities of Macuata and Cakaudrove Provinces” has got villagers to plant trees in their own villages and settlements.
Masilina Sesenicagi of Ligau Village on Kia Island in Macuata, who has been involved since 2020, described the program as an eye opener.
“It also makes us understand that the only solution to climate change is to plant a lot of trees,” she said.
“There’s a lot of vegetation loss on the island due to what we as humans do to our environment. Here on this small remote island of Kia, the loss of native trees is mainly caused by excessive deforestation and burning carried out over the years.”
She said such initiatives made them realise the value of trees, the environment, our lives, and especially our future generations. C3 community liaison officer Talei Silibaravi said 23,000 trees had been planted over a period of two years.
