THE iTaukei Lands Trust Board (TLTB) is engaging with landowners, governments, development partners including non-government organisations in embedding its carbon foot print in bio-diversity.
Other initiatives include environment conservation, carbon sequestrations and other climate change mitigations around the country.
While responding to this newspaper, the TLTB stated it was partnering with the National Trust of Fiji and Conservation International their climate mitigation initiative.
“We have the largest conservation lease in Fiji in the interior of Viti Levu called Sovi Basin. The recent Kilaka Forest is now active with the partnership of the World Conservation Society (WCS). With the forestry department, we have forest and nature reserve at Wabu around Mount Victoria, Taveuni Forest Reserve and Coloisuva Forest Park,” TLTB stated.
TLTB has also stated the National Trust of Fiji is also the lease holder for the Waisali Nature Reserve at Wailevu East, Cakaudrove.
“To enhance Fiji carbon sequestration, TLTB has been instrumental in the National REDD+ Steering Committee and its programs, especially in consultation with landowners, capacity building programs, the readiness phase and has now finalising the first REDD+ lease in Fiji with the Government under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) carbon credits mechanism.
“Another REDD+ lease was processed to landowner’s cooperative in partnership with the Live & Learn Environmental Education for the Drawa Block (Macuata) that can be traded in the open market.
“On water quality protections, TLTB has issued several water catchment leases to government through Director of Lands and Water Authority of Fiji at Savura (Coloisuva), Vunidawa, Tailevu North, Buabua and Saru in Lautoka, and Vaturu in Nadi with few more in process at Biuasevu in Nadroga and Naseyani in Ra.”
