Minister for Forests Osea Naiqamu has assured the people of Kadavu that their land was protected under the 2013 Fijian Constitution.
He made the comment while visiting elders in five villages recently.
Mr Naiqamu urged the villagers to plant trees on vacant land.
He said the trees planted by villagers belonged to them and they would be the direct beneficiaries of the project.
He said Government was not going to take away their land or the trees they planted — though the ministry was providing seedlings to the villagers.
Mr Naiqamu also said they were not forcing landowners to give their land but were conducting awareness on how they could benefit from the initiative.
He said the Government’s 30MillionTreesIn15Years initiative did not stop the planting of agricultural commodities by villagers nor was it intended to stop village developments.
Mr Naiqamu also urged landowners to submit vacant land for the replanting of trees, adding it would benefit future generations of Kadavu people.
The minister visited Nabukelevu-i-Ra, Daviqele, Namuana, Naqalotu and Tawava Village in the district of Yawe during his three-day tour.
