Nadicake landowners representative and chairperson of the Trustees Committee Rogasiano Matai was yesterday thankful and happy for the 99-year lease agreement of their 402-hecatare reserve land.

“We are happy that we are able to secure the lease for the benefit of our children,” Mr Matai said.

“It was not an easy feat as there were a lot of ideas on whether to log the area or mine the bauxite,” he said.

He said he was thankful to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and and iTaukei Lands Trust Board for making the reserve belonging to the Nadicake mataqali in the village of Kilaka in Kubulau, Bua a reality.

The members of the Nadicake landowning unit witnessed the official handing over of the lease agreement between the unit, WCS and the TLTB that ensures the long term protection of their forest for now and future generations.

The landowning unit has been voluntarily protecting their forest since 2006, and have been working closely with WCS and TLTB the last three years to establish the Kilaka Forest Conservation Area of native, near-pristine, highly biodiverse forests.

The conservation lease ensures that native indigenous species of trees in the forests are protected and clean water sources are maintained both for the community of Kilaka, as well as those residing downstream on the Kubulau coast.

As part of the conservation lease, communities will receive royalties based on the value of forest timber on their land, and rental payments.

A management plan developed by WCS in close partnership with mataqali Nadicake, and endorsed by the Ministry of Forests on November 24, 2016, will guide the management of the Kilaka Forest Conservation Area.

The management plan also contributes to the broader development plan for Kilaka Village.

In handing over the lease agreement, TLTB general manager, Tevita Kuruvakadua said the lease would create positive impacts to the environment, the local community of Kubulau and the national and global environment.

WCS Fiji Programme director, Sangeeta Mangubhai said: “This is a historic occasion today (yesterday) as we recognise the incredible commitment mataqali Nadicake has made to themselves and their children, and the gift they have given Fiji as a nation.

“The protection of these forests will ensure that communities have continued access to clean water, protect important catchments in the Kubulau district, while contributing to their own development needs and aspirations,” she said.

Fiji is signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Kilaka Forest Conservation Area will contribute to Aichi Target 11 to protect at least 17 per cent of  terrestrial areas by 2020, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Source: iTaukei Lands Trust Board

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