AN overcast morning with a light drizzle over the iconic Borron House overlooking the Suva Harbour set up the perfect backdrop for the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to get his hands dirty while on his tour of the country.
The very vocal head of the United Nations who is a strong advocate for climate change did not hesitate to pick up a shovel and plant Drautabua seedlings with President Jioji Konrote as part of the Fijian Government’s ‘4 Million Trees on 4 Years’ initiative at Borron House.
Drautabua is an indigenous plant which is critically endangered species with only estimated 500 trees left in its natural habitat.
This also comes after Mr Guterres met several Pacific island leaders on the margins of his visit to Suva and his address to the Pacific and the world at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat where he urged the developed nations to do more to address the issue of climate change.
UNSG’s participation in the ‘4 Million Trees in 4 Years’ initiative has been hailed as a significant one as Fiji continues to punch above its weight to find best nature based solutions and cost effective approaches to regenerate land and oceans biodiversity.
The initiative which was launched by the Fijian Head of State earlier this year has been one of its kind in the region and the one that not only reflects Fiji’s but also Pacific’s leadership in having an integrated approach to climate action through forestry development.
The campaign recognizes Fiji’s unwavering commitment towards the green growth economy, decarbonizing and its aspirations to be a model for a carbon neutral destination, building resilience and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and climate change mitigation.