VANUA LEVU PROJECT, 70,000 TO BENEFIT
More than 70,000 people of Vanua Levu would benefit from the Ecosystems-Based Climate Adaptation Project (ECAP) that was officially launched on Monday.
Launching the project, ambassador and head of European Union (EU) delegation for the Pacific, Sujiro Seam, said that individual behaviour towards awareness in such community engagement was very important.
Mr Seam congratulated the Fijian Government for its good performance in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. He promises to return to the Friendly North to visit the communities that have benefitted from the three-year project that was launched.
“Climate change is indeed your reality and the European Union recognizes that the Pacific is at the front line of climate change,” Mr Seam said.
“Despite COVID-19, climate change will always remain the top priority of the European Union.
“We recognise that in order to fight climate change we have to fight our carbon emissions.”
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, Mahendra Reddy, highlighted that COVID-19 should not to be used to compromise the environment.
He added that ECAP project would enhance the food source for communities and improve their climate resilience.
Mr Reddy said the ECAP would direct and indirectly target the communities in the three provinces in Vanua Levu; Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata focusing on youth and women’s groups, village -based co-operatives, minority groups, marginalised groups, community-based organisations and sub-national Government institutions.