04/03/2022
Fiji is working tirelessly to manage, protect, and restore its ecosystems by actively incorporating and promoting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in its ever-increasing disaster management models.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways, and Environment, Dr Mahendra Reddy, highlighted this while delivering his national statement at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) this week.
"This approach taken by Fiji supports the recovery of nature as a basis for the recovery and resilience of our people and our economy. One such exemplar is the Ministry of Environment’s "Jobs for Nature Rehabilitation" (J-NR) Programme. The programme promotes ecosystem restoration projects such as degraded land rehabilitation using sustainable agricultural approaches, mangrove and seagrass restoration, reforestation, and coastal and riverbank protection."
During his virtual address, Minister Reddy told the United Nations Environment Assembly that the J-NR programme is directed to the heart of the problem – the need to buy in ownership from communities – a shared responsibility from communities to commit to restoring nature within the spaces where they co-exist with nature.