The Dakuinaroba Bamboo Park in Navunibau Village has been officially inaugurated, showcasing Fiji’s commitment to sustainable forest management and community-driven development. During the opening ceremony, Minister for Forestry Alitia Bainivalu emphasized that this park represents the third community-based forest park initiated under the Ministry’s program, illustrating how local communities can effectively manage and benefit from their natural surroundings.
Bainivalu highlighted the park’s multifaceted contributions, including educational, recreational, cultural preservation, environmental protection, and opportunities for income generation. Specifically, the park enables the Mataqali Namara community to gain income through ecotourism and bamboo-related products, while simultaneously safeguarding the environment. This initiative embodies Fiji’s collective responsibility to conservation.
Aligning with national priorities, the park promotes a green economy through ecotourism and agroforestry, fostering new livelihoods, alleviating poverty, and supporting Fiji’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Bainivalu noted that the park plays a significant role in preserving local biodiversity and contributes to the global 30×30 conservation target, acknowledging the importance of indigenous communities as essential partners in protecting the country’s natural heritage.
Recent Forestry Bills further solidify this approach by formally recognizing the Vanua as significant stakeholders, ensuring that decisions and benefits remain with landowners, and emphasizing the vital role of community-led forest management. The Dakuinaroba Bamboo Park is poised to become an educational site and a model for other communities in Fiji, illustrating how sustainable resource management can yield enduring environmental and economic gains.