A GROUP of civil servants planted mangroves along the Labasa River bank yesterday morning as part of the Earth Hour program.
Led by the Ministry of Environment, the group included the Labasa and Savusavu towns Special Administrator Vijay Chand, Divisional Police Commander North Acting Senior Superintendent Fulori Rainibogi and Acting Divisional Fire Officer North Peleki Leweniqila.
Environment Officer North Senimili Nakora said the planting of mangroves was to involve the community to join in the fight of reducing carbon emissions.
"The planting of mangroves also provides nurseries for our fisheries. The mangrove planting is an activity under the Climate Change Building Resilience Project for Labasa Town."
She added the project would also include addressing food security, reforestation, flood risk reduction, Great Sea Reef protection and mangrove restoration.
Ms Nakora said the planting of mangroves would also hold intact the river banks preventing erosion.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Commissioner Northern's office also assisted the ministry with the program of mangrove planting in Labasa.