The vehicles will be given to the Western, Central and Northern Divisions for activities at the seven project sites.

Three new Chevrolet vehicles worth $200,400 were received by the Ministry of Environment during a handover ceremony in Suva on Wednesday.

The vehicles donated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will be used to help out in the ministry’s Ridge to Reef Project.

Ministry of Environment permanent secretary Joshua Wycliffe said the main objective of the project was to preserve biodiversity and the ecosystem which played a big role in addressing the impact of climate change.

“This is a large project of an ambitious nature, but with the wide geographical location of these different catchments in different parts of the islands these vehicles will assist in speeding up our work,” Mr Wycliffe said.

“One of the key challenges the project will face is adequate transportation so these three vehicles are very carefully linked to milestones and performance outcomes of the projects. It’s all thanks to the UNDP for helping us at a very crucial stage.”

UNDP country director and head of regional programme and policy support, Bakhodir Burkhanov said the purpose of the acquisition of vehicles was to transport members of the project implementation and members of the communities to carry out vital activities in the three divisions.

Transportation will be to demonstration sites from the interior and isolated areas to upper ridges of water sheds and those residing along the coast.

“Field of activities include consultations with communities and conducting of surveys, capacity development activities, and awareness raising activities and implementation of plans so this is all about communities these projects serve,” Mr Burkhanov said.

The vehicles will be given to the Western, Central and Northern Divisions for activities at the seven project sites. Edited by Percy Kean

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