The Sigatoka Sand Dunes is known internationally as the training ground for our Rio Olympic gold winners, the Fijian rugby sevens team.

For this, Permanent Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Shaheen Ali said it was important that the area was conserved.

He made this statement during the rehabilitation programme of the dry forest at the Sand Dunes National Park in Sigatoka yesterday.

Tourism stakeholders and Government agencies planted trees along the dry spots at the national park.

“Heritage sites should be our pride and symbol of nation building and our unity. The preservation of heritage properties or sites is an important undertaking and it is taken seriously both nationally and internationally,” he said.

The Sand Dunes National Park has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List under the Cultural category since 1999.

“We need to work collectively to make Sigatoka Sand Dunes, Fiji’s second World Heritage Site.

“This site deserves international recognition and protection,” Mr Ali said.

The programme was part of the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The programme included tree planting and aerobics.

“The Sand Dunes has a dry forest and rehabilitation of the forest has been an on-going activity for a number of years.

“The Ministry is happy to contribute to the revitalisation effort, which will lead to the increase of Fiji’s dry forest reserves,” he said.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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