Australia funds Lau seascape development
FIJI is one of the two countries that has received funding by an Australian charitable organisation, BHP Funding.
Bose ni Vanua ko Lau chairman Turaga na Roko Sau, Roko Josefa Cinavilakeba said of the 10 countries which applied for funding, only Fiji and Mexico received it.
He made the comment during the BVL meeting in Suva on Tuesday.
Roko Josefa thanked BHP Funding for funding the Lau seascape development.
He said Lau seascape encompassed the whole of the Lau Province and included terrestrial, inshore and offshore extending to the exclusive economic zone estimated at 335,895 square kilometres.
Roko Josefa said the Lau seascape strategy was part of a decisive action to look after what was theirs and to protect it.
He said since 2013, Conservation International (CI) had been working with the Masi ni Vanua o Lau to lay the foundation for successful interventions across the province.
Roko Josefa said they had visited all the villages throughout the Lau Group and educated them of the benefits of the project.
He also thanked all the Masi ni Vanua o Lau for accepting the project and the enthusiasm they had expressed towards it.