Korotari Nursery Pilots Climate Smart Demo Plot
The Korotari Forestry Station's Nursery, located outside Labasa Town, has designed and piloted a Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) initiative.
This is an integrated landscape management method that aids in the adaptation of agricultural systems, livestock, and crops to the effects of climate change.
The CSA demo plot is a Ministry
of Forestry initiative at our Korotari Nursery and is supported by the Ministry
of Agriculture, as the two ministries work towards transforming the agri-food
system towards green and climate resilient practices.
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Hon. Kalaveti Ravu, launched the Climate
Smart Demo Plot on Tuesday (21.03.2023) in conjunction with the International
Day of Forests.
This more than half-acre pilot site at Korotari is part of
the Ministry’s 2023 plan, and, if proved successful, will be replicated on several
Ministry’s reforestation sites as the benefits are far greater than its
establishment costs.
Staff have planted sandalwood trees integrated with fruit
trees like guavas, avocados, pineapples, cassava, and vetiver grass.
The Ministry intends to extend the area covered and will even
incorporate short-term vegetables.
Hon. Ravu said sustainable management of our forests
cannot be achieved by the forestry sector alone.
"Given that the main drivers of deforestation are
outside of forestry, we need to work together with other land-based sectors to deliver
the desired outcomes for our forests. Working together with agriculture,
therefore, in this CSA initiative will hopefully be the start of our pursuit of
an integrated approach to how we manage our natural resources for the benefit
of all our people," Hon. Ravu said.
Ministry’s Forester Extension, Josefa Matagasau, said
climate-smart agriculture integrates not only certain varieties of crops but
also soil, agro-inputs and farming systems.
"Climate-smart agriculture is an approach that helps
guide actions to absorb shocks, stress and transform agri-food systems towards
green and climate-resilient practices," Mr Matasau explained.
CSA aims to tackle three main objectives:
·
Sustainably increasing agricultural
productivity and incomes;
·
Adapting and building resilience to climate
change, and;
·
Reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas
emissions, where possible.