Naiqamu’s Forestry Initiatives Benefit Ordinary Fijians
Minister for Forests Osea Naiqamu may not get the same attention as some of his Cabinet colleagues publicly. But he is doing incredible work behind the scene which gets occasional mention in the media.
Some remarkable progress has been achieved in the way some programmes have benefitted ordinary Fijians.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Naiqamu, while responding to the 2020-2021 National Budget, laid out his ministry’s vision and the associated development programmes.
It is one of those rare but precious moments when he tells the nation what is happening in the development of our forestry resources.
Importance of forests
Forestry is an important natural resource of this country and an integral part of our economy.
It receives $15.7 million for its allocation. It could be more, but Mr Naiqamu said: “It is not so much the amount that a ministry receives, but how it uses the allocated funds to secure maximum returns, which matters the most.”
He has the right attitude and it characterises how he approaches his responsibility. How will his ministry use this money? His response:
1) Help Fijians who have lost their houses during ‘TC Harold’ to put a decent roof over their heads.
2) About $1.5 million is allocated for the maritime pine development and purchase of harvesting machines and equipment. These funds will complement Government’s housing rehabilitation in the islands.
3) Following TC Harold in April, the ministry deployed equipment and staff to help with repurposing fallen and damaged trees. It has purchased additional portable sawmills, and is enlisting the support of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces to help build roads to ease the extraction of trees.
4) In about 11 weeks and working with the islanders, the ministry managed to re-purpose timber for close to 200 houses. The ministry is collaborating with other agencies, including the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and the Ministry of Housing and Community Development, to start re-building houses up to Category 4 cyclone standard.
5) The ministry also recognises that the global pandemic has caused job losses and the closure of operations for many companies. It is, therefore, exploring opportunities to meaningfully engage with some companies with the recovery operations in the islands. This will help reinstate some jobs.
Managing our forests
Mr Naiqamu made it clear that the ministry’s “core responsibility is to sustainably manage our forest resources.”
“This is pivotal in building a resilient economy and society that can withstand the impacts of climate change and global pandemics. Sustainable forest management can help lift communities out of poverty, while also protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity.
“So far, more than $300,000 has been paid out under the Ridge to Reef Programme. 1258 2020-2021 Appropriation Bill 2020 28th July, 2020 About $2 million of the new Budget will enable the ministry to continue implementing the Cash for Tree Planting Programme, which provides the opportunity for Fijians who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to earn some cash by planting trees in their communities.
“This money will enable the ministry to scale up its efforts towards the planting of 30 million trees in 15 years under the Reforestation of Degraded Forest Programme and the Ridge to Reef Programme which is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).”
He highlighted a Fiji Sun story on July 20, 2020 about how the tree planting programme has helped sustain Mesake Dralolo and his family of Koromakawa Village in the district of Wairiki in Labasa. Mr Dralolo was a food and beverage worker in one of the resorts.
He lost his job because of COVID-19 and had to return to his roots and toil the land. He is one of many Fijians who have migrated to the rural areas. Mr Dralolo highlights the tangible ways that Mr Naiqamu’s forestry programmes are benefitting ordinary Fijians.