The Suva City Council is ensuring that the legacy of the Ivi Tree lives on.

Suva and Lami special administrator chair Isikeli Tikoduadua confirmed that an ivi seedling would be planted next to the original tree this Friday by the President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konrote.

Mr Tikoduadua said the original ivi tree was not only an iconic landmark, “but it could tell a thousand stories if it could talk”. He said it was a treasure for the city Of Suva.

The tree was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Ana. Part of the tree is still standing.

“We have just finished securing the tree by building a permanent steel frame to support it and all attempts are being done to make sure the tree lives on,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

Mr Tikoduadua said the tree stood the test of time but finally gave up during Cyclone Ana. He said this does not mean that the council had given up.

Suva’s Trees and Heritage Trail 

Mr Tikoduadua said an arborist had been hired to profile all the trees in the city of Suva.

He said the profiling was important because it would be part of the Heritage Trail the council was working on.

“We want to determine the age of all trees that are listed under the Suva City Council,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

“The first part is Ratu Sukuna Park. We will be detailing all trees. The arborist has been busy trimming the trees and removing the dead branches and telling us what we need to do.

“After all profiling has been done, all information will be displayed in front of the trees. And we will come with policies which will ensure that during future developments, the trees are put into consideration.”

Mr Tikoduadua said there was another ivi tree at Ratu Sukuna Park which they believed to be more than 80 years old and needed restoration.

Edited by Selita Rabuku

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