Fiji: REDD+ future

THINK of your future generations.

Members of the media were told to spare a thought for the future of their children and implement programs that would safeguard their natural resources.

The consultant for the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) policy, Dr Sean Weaver, said the program would allow developing countries such as Fiji to get paid for keeping their own forests.

"This would mean the protection of watersheds, clean water, sources of food and homes to plants and animals," he said.

The REDD+ policy was endorsed by the Fiji government in 2010 to strengthen forest governance in the country.

The policy encouraged forest preservation through climate protection.

Dr Weaver said target countries for the project were Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, including Fiji.

"REDD+ was developed because there was nothing focusing on forests after the Kyoto protocol was mostly based on fossil fuels and also in developed countries," he said.

He said the policy would mean sustainable management of forests, forest conservation and also the development of new forests for targeted countries.

Dr Weaver said REDD+ could contribute to the prevention of flooding, sea level rise, cyclone intensity and even droughts.

The German government spent more than $F1billion on the project.