Vuda District School in Lautoka launched its Green Forest project yesterday in support of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s role at COP23.

The first phase of the project saw the school receive more than 30 native and fruit plants from Fiji National University horticulturist, Saga Pillay.

Mr Pillay said this initiative was to teach children about greenery, the need to plant trees and its long term benefits for the country as a whole.

As of yesterday, the students from Years 3 to Year 7 were assigned to take care of the plants and further the initiative with their respective teachers, said Vuda District School head teacher, Osea Dau.

“This is a collaborative approach with Mr Pillay, initiating it with one of our former teachers.

“Now the school management has come on board and soon we are expecting to have a green house in the second phase of the project,” MrDau said.

He said that in time, the plants would become huge trees and suppliers of oxygen while the fruits would be sold.

“Through the greenery project we are expected to have a fruit farm which the school will commercialise and the income earned from this will be given to the children,” Mr Dau said.

The project is expected to establish a nursery and in the third phase it would become herbs and orchard planting.

“A committee has been set aside in the school to look after the project,” Mr Dau said.

The trees planted are Ivi, Vesi and a variety of fruits.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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