Fiji’s first biodiversity park opens

Listen to this article:

Fiji’s fi rst biodiversity park at Kalokolevu Village which was opened yesterday. Picture: JALE DAUCAKACAKA

WE have to stem the loss and degradation of biodiversity otherwise we will forego the opportunities of deriving its full benefits.

These were the sentiments of Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Dr Mahendra Reddy while opening Fiji’s first biodiversity park at Kalokolevu Village yesterday.

“We are facing climate change threats, extreme weather and natural events and all of these dimensions of climate change take a toll on our biodiversity stock, “he said.

The Kalokolevu Biodiversity Park also serves as a forest reserve and Dr Reddy acknowledged the efforts of youths of Kalokolevu in planting a diverse range of native tree species such as dakua, makadre, vesi and koka.

“There is an additional advantage of having a biodiversity park, apart from a reserve –– you have additional resources, infrastructure to get people to spend time with nature and appreciate it within Fiji and outside of Fiji.”

Village headman Leone Kuruisalili said the establishment of the park brought two major benefits to the land.

“That particular area on which the park is situated in was dry and damaged from deforestation and the replanting of native trees will surely heal it as members of the public will surely enjoy nature walks through the area,” he said.

The Kalokolevu Biodiversity Park covers four acres of land, with a combination of gravel and natural walkway tracks for visitors who want to enjoy a nature walk, leading through a gentle incline to an area with a panoramic view of the Suva Harbour.

Dr Reddy said the ministry planned to establish 50 biodiversity parks around the country “to encourage youths to plant more native trees and protect natural resources”.

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 29
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

No Posts found for specific category