The National Trust of Fiji (NTF) will use these funds to purchase equipment that will ensure field staff and site managers are adequately equipped to support management. In addition, the funds will also be used to purchase equipment to support interpretative activities at the NTF Site Visitor Information Centre & Resource Centre and to carry out management effectiveness assessments in six local sites.

The sites that will benefit from this work are Waisali Rainforest Reserve, Yadua Taba Crested Iguana Sanctuary, Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, Garrick Reserve and Sovi Basin Protected Area.

At the signing event today, Craig Powell of NTF thanked BIOPAMA for the funding opportunity.

“The National Trust is grateful to the European Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and to IUCN for their assistance and support throughout this process. The objectives of the BIOPAMA to improve the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in protected areas and surrounding communities, has become even more critical and relevant in the global environment today and we look forward to successfully implementing this Small Technical Grant of BIOPAMA”, said Mr. Craig Powell, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Trust of Fiji.

IUCN Oceania’s Regional Director Mason Smith also recognised the significance of the BIOPAMA grant that was awarded to NTF and what it meant for the country.

“I acknowledge the generosity of the Government and people of Europe, through the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, who have made this grant possible. I also congratulate the National Trust of Fiji for submitting an excellent proposal that is no doubt testament to the strong leadership, experience and capability of their staff. I look forward to seeing an impact on the work they will be carrying out over the next few months and stand ready to provide additional technical assistance if needed”, said Mr. Mason Smith, Regional Director of IUCN Oceania.

The National Trust of Fiji, a statutory body funded jointly by the Fiji Government, independent donors and multi-lateral projects, was established in 1970 to provide for the protection of Fiji’s natural, cultural and national heritage. It is the only National Trust of the South Pacific region and Specializes in both the natural and cultural aspects of heritage conservation.

BIOPAMA is a global initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States financed by the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund that aims to improve long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In the Pacific, IUCN Oceania leads the project’s implementation in partnership with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). An important part of the project is a € 21 million grant facility (or Action Component) that aims to support on-ground action through small grants (https://action.biopama.org/).

There is a € 3M funding envelope available for the Pacific region.

In the news!

The news about the National Trust of Fiji signing event in the Fiji One News (23 October 2020): Facebook Live video(back-time 20:00)