Article Five of the Paris Agreement has been putting forests in the centre of the climate change discussion.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Samuela Lagataki said ahead of Fiji’s enormous role at  COP23, the country’s forests would continue to play a vital role on Fiji’s sustainable, social and economic development.

Mr Lagataki made these comments during the official celebration of 2017 International Day of Forests at Tuvu Primary School in Ba yesterday.

The celebration was officiated by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Iowane Tiko.

More than 900 trees were planted at Tuvu near the Tuvu Primary School by the permanent secretaries and children to mark the day.

The theme for this year is ‘Forest and Energy’.

Mr Lagataki also said the ministry wanted to see communities playing an active role in sustainably managing and benefiting from the natural resources in their localities.

“We need to strike a balance between utilisation and management of our forestry, water and other environmental resources for sustainability,” he said

“Promoting forest restoration and avoiding forest loss will require a significantly increased level of funding and innovative financing, including from private funds and traditional investors, in the coming years.

“Some countries have created successful enabling environments for private-sector investment in forestry and developed innovative funding mechanisms, such as payments for ecosystem services.

“Climate change is a major global threat and has to be factored into the forests-energy equation.

“It is exacerbating water stress and food vulnerability and putting thousands of communities at risk,” he said.

The International Day of Forests began in 2011.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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