PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 5:10 PM by Luigi

Fiji land use policy launched

Fiji is launching a land use policy to guide sustainable development of its land resources — making it the first Pacific Island nation to do so.

The policy addresses critical issues such as the expansion of commercial cropping on to marginal lands, lack of land conservation measures for fragile soils, burning of grasslands and rapidly increasing deforestation, all fuelled by a growing population and commercialisation. Titled ‘A Rural Land Use Policy for Fiji’, it was endorsed by the Fiji Cabinet in June and will be publicly launched on 2 September 2005 at the Tanoa Plaza in Suva. Chief guest at the event will be the Minister of Agriculture, Sugar, and Land Resettlement, Illaitia Tuisese with Mr Tilman Enders, Acting Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Fiji.

"It has been a long journey towards this landmark, but now we come to the most important stretch — implementing the policy," said Inoke Ratukalou, Director of the Department of Land Resources Planning and Development. "

The new policy will serve as an effective information and awareness tool and provide a rationale for land legislation, ensuring less arbitrary regulations. This is a big step towards promoting sustainable land management practices in rural communities." Developing the policy was a joint effort by Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar, and Land Resettlement and the SPC/GTZ Pacific-German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP). A participatory approach was used with more than 100 stakeholders, from more than 20 agencies, being consulted over a two-year period. The consultation process was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the PGRFP.

The Rural Land Use Policy gives Fiji a framework for sustainable development.With increasing intensification of agriculture, urban sprawl, and other demands on land, planned development and effective monitoring are fundamental to maintaining sustainable relationships between Fiji’s people and natural resources.

Source: http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5284.shtml

* Comments:

Fiji Government's rural policy is a farce.

It should empower the native landowners by phasing out the Native Lands Trust Board.

Replacing it with trust foundations for each landowning unit. There regulating function will transfer to Lands Department.

That is why Fiji can't sustain itself with exports. If it want's to compete on the Global market, new paradigms must be in place first.

For the past 50 years Native land has been under the control of N.L.T.B. Now it wants control of the native fishing grounds too.

Time to relinquish the shackles of social mobility in Fiji. It's also sad that these so called experts in SOPAC can't give that advice of empowerment.

Too busy sucking up to everybody else. Technology transfer is a subject seldom discussed in these Science based institutions, so that Pacific Island nations can produce more food, more energy to sustain themselves. Instead of being at the bottom of the food chain.

Island nations are being given just enough, so that they keep coming back for more AID.

# posted by

laminar_flow : 8:57 AM



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DIVA-GIS	Thursday, August 25, 2005 Posted 5:10 PM by Luigi Fiji land use policy launched Fiji is launching a land use policy to guide sustainable development of its land resources — making it the first Pacific Island nation to do so. The policy addresses critical issues such as the expansion of commercial cropping on to marginal lands, lack of land conservation measures for fragile soils, burning of grasslands and rapidly increasing deforestation, all fuelled by a growing population and commercialisation. Titled ‘A Rural Land Use Policy for Fiji’, it was endorsed by the Fiji Cabinet in June and will be publicly launched on 2 September 2005 at the Tanoa Plaza in Suva. Chief guest at the event will be the Minister of Agriculture, Sugar, and Land Resettlement, Illaitia Tuisese with Mr Tilman Enders, Acting Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Fiji. "It has been a long journey towards this landmark, but now we come to the most important stretch — implementing the policy," said Inoke Ratukalou, Director of the Department of Land Resources Planning and Development. " The new policy will serve as an effective information and awareness tool and provide a rationale for land legislation, ensuring less arbitrary regulations. This is a big step towards promoting sustainable land management practices in rural communities." Developing the policy was a joint effort by Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar, and Land Resettlement and the SPC/GTZ Pacific-German Regional Forestry Project (PGRFP). A participatory approach was used with more than 100 stakeholders, from more than 20 agencies, being consulted over a two-year period. The consultation process was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the PGRFP. The Rural Land Use Policy gives Fiji a framework for sustainable development.With increasing intensification of agriculture, urban sprawl, and other demands on land, planned development and effective monitoring are fundamental to maintaining sustainable relationships between Fiji’s people and natural resources. Source: http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5284.shtml * Comments: Fiji Government's rural policy is a farce. It should empower the native landowners by phasing out the Native Lands Trust Board. Replacing it with trust foundations for each landowning unit. There regulating function will transfer to Lands Department. That is why Fiji can't sustain itself with exports. If it want's to compete on the Global market, new paradigms must be in place first. For the past 50 years Native land has been under the control of N.L.T.B. Now it wants control of the native fishing grounds too. Time to relinquish the shackles of social mobility in Fiji. It's also sad that these so called experts in SOPAC can't give that advice of empowerment. Too busy sucking up to everybody else. Technology transfer is a subject seldom discussed in these Science based institutions, so that Pacific Island nations can produce more food, more energy to sustain themselves. Instead of being at the bottom of the food chain. Island nations are being given just enough, so that they keep coming back for more AID. # posted by laminar_flow : 8:57 AM 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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