Joint Naval Forces, Students Plant Mangroves at Matainoco
4000 mangrove seedlings have been planted by the Matainoco riverbank in Tailevu, thanks to a cooperative effort between the Ministry of Forestry, the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, the United States Navy, New Zealand Navy, the Republic of Fiji Navy, schoolchildren and villagers.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force Ship "SHIMOKITA" was in port in Suva as part of the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023 (#IPD23), and the Japanese Chief of Joint Staff, General Yoshihide Yoshida, headed the planting activity last Friday (18.08.23).
The villagers gave them a warm welcome with a traditional ceremony (sevusevu) and heartfelt singing from the Ballantine Memorial School (BMS) students of Delainavesi.
"Just listening to the angelic voices of these children made me so emotional, and I couldn’t stop my tears from flowing. This memory will not be forgotten. Apart from planting mangroves to protect the local villagers, we will not forget the kind gesture by the villagers," General Yoshida said.
General Yoshida stated that the Japanese people understood the hardships brought on by climate change in Fiji and surrounding Pacific island nations.
“We all face similar security issues as a result of climate change, so one way we can help reduce the risks is by participating in planting activities.”
He added that the planting of mangrove seedlings would contribute to the protection of the village coastline from erosion and extreme weather.
A similar planting activity was held in Suva last year, where the personnel engaged in a joint community service activity with the Fijian Navy by cleaning up the Nasese Foreshore and planting 15,000 mangrove seedlings.
General Yoshida added that they hoped to continue this engagement in the coming years.
“We will continue to strengthen our cooperation between the two countries and especially through cultural exchanges with the local communities that we visit.
The Ministry of Forestry had coordinated the planting activity as part of Fiji’s landscape restoration programme with communities.
The mangrove seedlings, worth $8,000, were purchased from the Matainoco Women’s Club.
Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry, Mrs Atelaite Rokosuka, welcomed partnerships and initiatives that contribute to environmental sustainability and the health of coastal ecosystems.
Mrs Rokosuka thanked the government of Japan through the Embassy of Japan in Fiji for their ongoing cooperation in projects like planting mangroves, which improve the protection of coastlines from erosion, capture carbon dioxide, and serve as habitat for a variety of species.
She continued by saying that including the students from BMS and Veikoso Primary School in the activity will not only get them involved in a fun activity but also teach them the value of planting mangroves to protect people from natural disasters because mangroves act as natural barriers.