Fiji is working tirelessly to manage, protect, and restore its ecosystems by actively incorporating and promoting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in its ever-increasing disaster management models.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways, and Environment, Dr Mahendra Reddy, highlighted this while delivering his national statement at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) this week.
"This approach taken by Fiji supports the recovery of nature as a basis for the recovery and resilience of our people and our economy. One such exemplar is the Ministry of Environment’s "Jobs for Nature Rehabilitation" (J-NR) Programme. The programme promotes ecosystem restoration projects such as degraded land rehabilitation using sustainable agricultural approaches, mangrove and seagrass restoration, reforestation, and coastal and riverbank protection."
During his virtual address, Minister Reddy told the United Nations Environment Assembly that the J-NR programme is directed to the heart of the problem – the need to buy in ownership from communities – a shared responsibility from communities to commit to restoring nature within the spaces where they co-exist with nature.
"Apart from instilling community ownership to tackling biodiversity and nature loss/restoration, this programme also provides employment opportunities to hundreds of Fijians."
"Embracing agroecological practices such as agroforestry, bio-conservation, and regenerative agricultural practices can restore and sustain the ecosystem services like flowing waterways, soil health, and the sinking of carbon. This also helps close yield gaps. Our Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) administered by the Department of Environment safeguards the focus on the above as developments are considered. This includes agro-ecological practices that are applied in every relevant area of development," Minister Reddy said.
"It is important to recognise that biodiversity underpins the delivery of all ecosystem services on which humanity rests and that these are critical for the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the global and national targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity."
Minister Reddy stated to the UNEA Assembly that the Fijian Parliament recently passed the Climate Change Act 2021, outlining a comprehensive solution to address Climate Change.
"Apart from safeguarding our biodiversity, the legislation specifies Fiji's climate adaptation and mitigation measures, trials, coordinated responses to climate emergencies and displacement, and creates committees, protocols, and regulations ensuring Fiji meets its climate targets and commitments under the Paris Agreement."
"We have produced evidence-based tangible outputs on the ground as our vision lies in the realms of long-term perspectives, taking our cue from lessons learnt in the past – it is this quest that keeps us future-fit, adjusting our trajectory towards a brighter and better Fijian destiny."
“We must ensure that as one global family, we adopt best practices that manage, protect, and restore nature, while gradually meeting the fundamentals of human rights to healthy and nutritious food supplies for all,” Minister Reddy told the United Nations Environment Assembly.