Team Crusaders Help Plant Suva Mangroves
Forestry permanent secretary Pene Baleinabuli said: “Today is a significant moment for Fiji.
Sunday 02 June 2019 | 14:54
Some of the Fiji Airways staff members, Ministry of Forestry staff members and the Crusaders team after planting mangrove plants along the Suva foreshore on June 1, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar. Fijian-born Crusaders player Manasa Mataele planting mangrove seedlings with Fiji Airways and Ministry of Forestry staff along the Suva foreshore on June 1, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar.
The Crusaders team yesterday helped the Ministry of Forestry in partnership with Fiji Airways by planting more than 12,000, mangroves.
Forestry permanent secretary Pene Baleinabuli said: “Today is a significant moment for Fiji.
“Especially in terms of climate change and the need to protect our environment and our coastal ecosystem.”
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Mr Baleinabuli said they were grateful to the Crusaders team for spending some time with them and of course their partners Fiji Airways.
“We are very grateful that we were able to spend half an hour to plant more than 12,000 mangroves seedlings.
“It’s a very significant footprint the Crusaders are leaving behind, it’s part of their legacy.
“They are not only here to display their rugby skills.
“We appreciate that they were able to protect the environment for us.” He said this was Fiji’s initiative, and the Minister is happy to partner with anybody who believes in the environment.
“I also encourage people around the country if they are planting trees please let us know so that we can tag in as one.”
Fiji Airways passionate on mangrove planting
Fiji Airways general manager corporate communication Shane Hussein said their partnership with the Ministry of Forestry to organise a mangrove planting activity with the members of the Crusaders super rugby team.
“We have about 80 people with the Crusaders team planting mangroves.
“Mangroves is vitally important for the protection of our coastlines.
“Fiji Airways is always very passionate about mangrove planting,” Mr Hussein said.
Fijian-born Crusaders player Manasa Mataele planting mangrove seedlings with Fiji Airways and Ministry of Forestry staff along the Suva foreshore on June 1, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar.
“Our target for this year is to plant 20,000 trees so we are so grateful that we were able to plant more than 12, 000 trees today with the help of the Ministry and Crusaders team.”
Mr Hussein said this was not the first time they planted mangroves at the Suva foreshores.
“We have been doing this every year since 2017, and we take great pride in this.”
He added as a National Carrier their interest was to protect and support Fiji’s conservation efforts and of course to mitigate our carbon emissions which was very important.
Fiji Airways number one
Crusaders Business Development Manager Laura Lecomte said Fiji Airways was their number one.
Ms Lecomte said the team enjoyed the service provided by Fiji Airways on their flight from New Zealand to Nadi.
“There was a lot of space on the flight, and it was really quick and it took us two and half hours to reach Nausori.
“We get in and out very quickly and the staff were very helpful and friendly.
“The food was awesome and the service provided was great.
“We were very well looked after.”
