Fiji Land Degradation Project Launched
A new project, to combat land degradation and improve land management practices in Fiji was officially launched in November.
The 2 million Euro Action Against Desertification (AAD) Project is supported by the European Union in the context of the ACP/EU programme that supports the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.
FAO will implement the four year project.
The ADD project was launched by Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Sanaila Naqali, with remarks by FAO and EU Representatives.
The AAD project will help combat land degradation and improve land management practices in Fiji through exploration, adaptive research and use of innovative approaches and technologies.
Supporting sustainable livelihoods through income generating activities and value chain development will also be a central focus of the project. This will be achieved through the provision of capacity development assistance to Government institutions, local communities and other key stakeholders . In parallel, improving coordination among key institutions and establishing mechanisms for increased participation in consultative policy processes will be supported.
The project is part of a global programme established under the ACP Group of States that covers Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. In addition to Fiji, participating countries include Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Haiti.
Mr. Douglas McGuire, FAO lead technical adviser and the international team leader for the project stressed in his remarks that fighting land degradation, restoring degraded land, supporting livelihoods and addressing poverty alleviation requires a multi-sectoral approach. The AAD project in its implementation will focus on engaging key stakeholders, build partnerships, support on-going projects and add value to existing activities and projects.
The key Government Ministries who will be taking the lead in project implementation in Fiji are the Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture. The project is working to develop close collaboration with other projects and programmes in Fiji in order to more effectively support Fiji in achieving its sustainable development goals, in particular those related to land degradation as set forth under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
With the project’s links to the global programme and initiatives in combating land degradation and desertification, Fiji will be able to share and benefit from experiences and lessons learnt from other ACP countries through South-South Cooperation, where developing countries assist each other through knowledge exchange, sharing of experiences and technical assistance.
Action Against Desertification has already mobilized significant interest and involvement of many stakeholder groups in Fiji and has high hopes for helping Fiji reverse the negative trend of land degradation – a key driver of poverty and food insecurity - and building resilience of the country’s rural communities to the effects of climate change.