BY SAMIE WAIKORI
Auki
PERMANENT Secretary of Ministry of Forest and Research, Dr Vaeno Vigulu has thanked United States of America through the USAID SCALE-NRM project for the facilitation of the Forests and Development Fund for Malaita province and the country.
In his remark during launching of the fund on Thursday this week in Auki, Vigulu stated that government’s support towards the fund and programs will benefit people in the province.
“We appreciate the establishment of the partnership project in Malaita province and looking forward to participate as a ministry to provide advices, trainings and necessary supports towards the program,” Vigulu said.
“This is to ensure the project will develop and benefit people in the province and grow to other provinces in the country,” he added.
Vigulu said Solomon Islands are a developing country and looking at partners to work with to develop their forests and natural resources for substantial benefits.
He said FDF program is a milestone for forestry sector in the country, because it will help promote forest sustainability and management program under the US SCALE project for the country.
Vigulu added that the FDF was set up to purposely support protection of forest, expending opportunities for local income generation, strengthening the capacity of communities and community organization for successful implementation of the program.
He said forestry sector is the second largest employer of Solomon Islanders, and establishing this program will help communities to better engage forest resources at the provincial level.
“The good thing is getting community members at their own tribal lands to get employ and generate income will support micro economy in the province and the national economy,” he said.
On that note, Vigulu said USA is advance in both technology and forest resource management and working with them will be a benefit to forest industry and for the country.
He said MFR is looking forward to share, interact and learn from them on the forest resource planning and management as SCALE-NRM will be implementing the program.
