Nursery on Taveuni Restores Ecosystem
The opening of Mua Native Tree Nursery on Taveuni Island will help to restore the ecosystem by restocking native trees in Vuna.
The nursery was officially opened and handed over to the Ministry of
Forestry.
This is part of continued efforts in the reforestation programme initiated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC).
The nursery, which was set up in 2018 to supply seedlings to the
Taveuni Reforestation and Agroforestry Programme is supported by three ministries - Forestry, Agriculture and iTaukei Affairs).
Ministry of Forestry director north, Moape Lotawa said: “Native trees are part of our culture, our identity and heritage.
“Through logging and other less sustainable means, our native tree stocks have become low and scarce to the point that it becomes difficult to show the younger generation the value of these trees when they don’t grow as abundantly as they once did,” Mr Lotawa said.
He said this nursery would help to restore the balance by restocking native trees into identified deforested areas in Vuna, Taveuni.
Native trees adapt well to the local Fijian climate so trees like vesi (sandalwood) and bauvudi will once again stand tall in our forests. He added that Taveuni, as the Garden island of Fiji, it was only fitting that they assist restock nature’s garden.