Long serving officer moves on
Forest Resource Management Officer , Mr Aru Mathias is leaving Samoa after serving nearly two decades for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Mr Mathias, a national of Vanuatu , arrived in Samoa in March 1999. “ I arrived in Samoa on three year contract as Forest Resource Management Officer and stayed 17 years”.
During his time here Mr Mathias has noticed significant change in Samoa and in the region as a whole. “We have grown over the years from a small office specialising in traditional FAO technical areas to supporting much larger forestry programmes which include climate change and resilience components. These programmes will take a lot of energy and resources to manage and to make sure they have lasting impact”. Said Mr Mathias.
“For me, how forestry is viewed has shifted over at least the last 15 years”. Mathias explained. “We took care not to chop forests down but to look at sustainably managing yields the forests”. He continued. “This work is still very important but now forests are seen as playing a vital role in mitigating Climate Change. Forests help absorb and store global carbon emissions into their biomass and soils.”
FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator, Ms. Eriko Hibi said the organisation is very fortunate to have long serving staff. “Staff committed to the organisation genuinely bring what they believe is best for FAO.”
Mr Mathias will move to the FAO country office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in his existing capacity as Forest Resource Management Officer. “I will be concentrating more the larger island countries in Melanesia but will still support work in other countries in the Pacific region. It will be sad to leave Samoa but I look forward to a new life and new challenges in PNG.”
FAO Forestry
FAO Forestry programme provides advice on forest policy formulation, reviews and coordinates implementation of forest policy at the regional level, and exchanges information on suitable practices and solutions for technical problems. Promotes improved forest management through national codes of practice for forest harvesting, reduced impact logging practices and assisted natural regeneration techniques. Established the Asia-Pacific Forest Policy Think Tank to analyse critical forestry issues and guide policy makers. Raises awareness of the costs and dangers posed by invasive species through creation of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network. Supports REDD+ and climate change adaptation.