Protecting Fiji’s Forests and Environment through Regulatory and Enforcement Training
The Pacific Island States have invested much effort and funding in policies and legislation to create awareness for its citizens to conserve and protect the forests and eco-system services for the environment and for society as a whole.
Legislation, however, has to be enforced in order to be effective. Well managed law enforcement in the form of patrols, inspections, investigation and apprehension of offenders ultimately leads to the prevention of criminal violations. Environmental crimes often result in irreversible and long lasting damage that impacts society.
FAO, upon request of Fiji’s Ministry for Forest and Fisheries, organized a Forestry and Environment Law Compliance and Enforcement training for its “Forest and protected Area Management” project.
The Australian Centre for Environmental Compliance (ACFEC) delivered a training course for Government officers of Fiji’s Forest and Environment Departments.
The training which was held was held in Suva, Fiji in November was developed to help increase compliance and enforcement capacity in relation to the regulation of forestry and environmental sectors. Roger Ilitch, the CEO to ACFEC, trainer and environmental lawyer said. “In many cases the Pacific jurisdictions require learning and development of operational procedures to assist them to apply coercive regulatory instruments contained in legislation. This helps them to protect, mitigate, control or rehabilitate the environment where an alleged offence has occurred. The underlying principle is that the offender should bear the environmental cost.”
Training focused on the regulatory framework for forestry management and environmental protection, with the underpinning aim of improving the conservation of forests, natural resources and protected areas in Fiji. A central aim of the course was to develop the capacity of officers to ensure compliance with environmental protection laws. Training focused on recognising and utilising appropriate regulatory tools, emphasising the importance of environmental enforcement from education through to prosecution.
Participants cited the effectiveness of the training in improving their ability to exercise their powers and fulfil their work duties and obligations. “The practical exercises were the most useful as they allowed me to think laterally and allowed for a better understanding of the practicality of the law,”said one of the participants.
The course was funded and supported by the project “Forestry and Protected Area Management” of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Global Environment Facility in cooperation with the Fiji Islands’ Ministry of Fisheries and Forests.