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President launches 4 million trees in 4 years initiative

Ana Ravulo Senior Multimedia Journalist [email protected] | @AnaFBCNews

January 8, 2019 4:45 pm

President Major General Retired Jioji Konrote [right] and Forestry Minister, Osea Naiqamu [Source: Fijian Government]

The four million trees in four years initiative was today launched by President Major General Retired Jioji Konrote.

This means the government together with Ministry of Forestry will aim to plant a million trees per year, with the first being planted at the State House.

While launching the initiative, President Konrote says not only will the initiative help the environment but it will also benefit our economy.

“The 4 million trees initiative not only reflects visionary leadership on the part of government but it also reflects a deep sense of responsibility that we could leave our beloved nation a better state then when we found it. Importantly this initiative would mean that the Forestry sector could significantly increase its contributions to our economic growth, I understand that the sector has been contributing about $40million towards the economy alone for past decades.”

Group photo of Forestry officials and State House officials. [Source: Fijian Government]

Forestry Minister, Osea Naiqamu says they will plant all kinds of trees.

“The initiative will see us plant all kind of trees from timber trees, fruit trees, ornamental trees to non-wood species, and mangroves. Apart from the 4 million trees, we also intend to plant to not less than 500,000 mangroves over the next four years to protect our coastal ecosystems.”

The initiative also builds on the UN 2030 agenda for SDG which aims to sustain natural forest globally.