PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 10:20 PM by Luigi

Fiji Cabinet approves National Rural Land Use Policy

From the Fiji Government Online Portal, June 22nd 2005

Cabinet has approved the development of a National Rural Land Use Policy for Fiji. Cabinet based its decision on the submission by the Minister for Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement, Ilaitia Tuisese, of the report on Land Use Practices and Related Issues.

Mr Tuisese explained that currently Fiji does not have an integrated rural land-use policy or national land-use plan, although there is an existing legislation called the Land Conservation and Improvement Act. He said that there is a need to develop the rural land use policy for wise, holistic decision making in the allocation of resource for different uses and sustainable land resources development and management.

Mr Tuisese further explained that the Fiji economy has a narrow base and performance is heavily dependent on the performance of tourism and the sugar industry. In addition, Mr Tuisese said that Fiji’s obligation as a signatory to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification / Land degradation (UNCCD) is to provide measures to prevent land degradation and rehabilitate degraded land through a rural land use policy and plan.

Mr Tuisese said that the development of a rural land-use policy for Fiji would see an increased public awareness on land resources, including soil, water and flora are interdependent and must be managed in an integrated way; and that the individual land user and the community have a responsibility for preventing and mitigating land degradation.

“It would also result in increased public awareness of the values of trees and forests, as well as a regulatory framework for the protection and sustainable development and management of rural land resources. There would also be appropriate mechanisms to protect farmlands and forests from fire, pests and pathogens; institutional reform to support and enhance capabilities in all rural sector activities; and protection of water and soil values. The policy would further ensure research, training and education to: improve land assessment and evaluation; land husbandry practices; farm and forest productivity and values; and land-use planning.”

Mr Tuisese said under the policy, there would be good governance strategies to expand and diversify sustainable economic activity, increase employment, added-value earnings and promotion of social development goals.

He added that there would also be an effective Fiji involvement with, and contribution to, global issues that have laws related to the environment, rural development, sustainable land management, etc.



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DIVA-GIS	Monday, June 27, 2005 Posted 10:20 PM by Luigi Fiji Cabinet approves National Rural Land Use Policy From the Fiji Government Online Portal, June 22nd 2005 Cabinet has approved the development of a National Rural Land Use Policy for Fiji. Cabinet based its decision on the submission by the Minister for Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement, Ilaitia Tuisese, of the report on Land Use Practices and Related Issues. Mr Tuisese explained that currently Fiji does not have an integrated rural land-use policy or national land-use plan, although there is an existing legislation called the Land Conservation and Improvement Act. He said that there is a need to develop the rural land use policy for wise, holistic decision making in the allocation of resource for different uses and sustainable land resources development and management. Mr Tuisese further explained that the Fiji economy has a narrow base and performance is heavily dependent on the performance of tourism and the sugar industry. In addition, Mr Tuisese said that Fiji’s obligation as a signatory to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification / Land degradation (UNCCD) is to provide measures to prevent land degradation and rehabilitate degraded land through a rural land use policy and plan. Mr Tuisese said that the development of a rural land-use policy for Fiji would see an increased public awareness on land resources, including soil, water and flora are interdependent and must be managed in an integrated way; and that the individual land user and the community have a responsibility for preventing and mitigating land degradation. “It would also result in increased public awareness of the values of trees and forests, as well as a regulatory framework for the protection and sustainable development and management of rural land resources. There would also be appropriate mechanisms to protect farmlands and forests from fire, pests and pathogens; institutional reform to support and enhance capabilities in all rural sector activities; and protection of water and soil values. The policy would further ensure research, training and education to: improve land assessment and evaluation; land husbandry practices; farm and forest productivity and values; and land-use planning.” Mr Tuisese said under the policy, there would be good governance strategies to expand and diversify sustainable economic activity, increase employment, added-value earnings and promotion of social development goals. He added that there would also be an effective Fiji involvement with, and contribution to, global issues that have laws related to the environment, rural development, sustainable land management, etc. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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