Residents Plant Trees For Future Generations

26/07/2020

NANISE NEIMILA
 
Planting more trees for the future generation will be the only possible solution for families residing on
Waqaitakea settlement in the district of Udu Point in Vanua Levu as coastal erosion erodes their living space.

Originally from Nalele in Cikobia Island, Waisele Rokowati said since the arrival of his forefathers, more than a century ago, the settlement has been home for his family and nine siblings.

“We grew up on the island and back in the days it was always a challenge for my parents so they decided to relocate here so that we could attend school.”

“Life on the island was always a challenge because our own mode of transport was by boat so we would help our parents with every little thing like selling coconuts, fishing just to get around in a day.

A lot has changed, coastal erosion is more evident due to the rise in sea-level, what was once a playing ground for our children during the school holidays has vanished.

“The plan now is to rehabilitate our eroding coastline throughout the remaining months of this year to protect our village,” Mr Rokowati said.

“The dire need for the rehabilitation efforts is because of the erosions that have taken place over the last few years. As a community, we are worried that our coastline is eroding at a very fast rate that soon, if we don’t do anything, the sea water will reach the school in the near future,” he said.

In celebration and contribution to replanting trees in the settlement to mitigate the effect of soil erosion and climate change, Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu led a team of Government officials to visit the settlement to enlighten them on the 30-Million-trees-in-15-years planting initiative.

With this target, Minister Naiqamu said the renewed massive tree planting programme signifies the
Fijian Government’s commitment to elevate the importance of trees and forests as it is critical to nation building, whilst reviving the kinship with nature and its relevance to the very own existence and health of this planet.

He said Fiji’s tree-planting initiative is also part of the global reforestation movement to increase the planet’s ability to absorb carbon and ultimately address climate change.

Minister Naiqamu has urged the villagers of Waqaitakea to take part in the Government’s initiative to plant trees as this can also be a source of income to them and also contribute to the Ministry of Forestry’s initiative to plant more trees.