Youths plant mangroves to combat climate change in Fiji

Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-04 16:54:47|Editor: huaxia

SUVA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Youth and Sports is committed to encouraging Fijians to act against climate change in their communities.

Speaking at a mangrove planting program in Navuniivi, Ra, one of Fiji's 14 provinces on the main island of Viti Levu, Fiji's Minister for Youth and Sports Parveen Kumar Bala said on Tuesday that the mangrove seedlings will mitigate against the impact of climate change.

"In the newly announced budget we have a program called Youth Coast Care program. This program promotes the revegetation of coastal areas to protect the receding shoreline, create a nursery for marine life, increase fish numbers and promote the sustainable use of our marine resources for our future generations," he said.

The minister, who helped plant more than 600 mangrove seedlings along with youth in the village, commended the foresight of villages in mangrove reforestation and the active participation of youths in such initiatives.

"I am encouraged by the unity and cooperation of the village youth and this is one of the main objectives of my Ministry which is to promote youth to take the lead role in community activities."

The Minister's visit to Navuniivi was a follow-up visit following an earlier commitment to the villagers to assist in climate change activities such as mangrove planting. The implications of climate change in countries in the South Pacific region including Fiji have been challenging. Villages have been relocated due to sea level rise. Enditem

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