More than US$1 million will be made available to Fiji to carry out the By-catch and Integrated Ecosystem Management (BIEM) Initiative and the PacwastePlus project.
The BIEM initiative is for protecting coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass habitats that are critical in providing vital ecological services in the protection of coastline and shoreline; the maintenance of water quality, the restoration of reef biological marine life and building resilience to the impacts of climate change, while the PacWastePlus programme is to improve regional management of waste and pollution sustainably and cost-effectively.
The EU will make available US$1,257,465 for the BIEM initiative and US$300,000 for the PacwastePlus project.
The announcement was made by the EU Ambassador Sujiro Seam while speaking at the signing this morning at Holiday Inn.
He says the letter being signed today is part of the programs funded by the European Union as it responds to the strategic priorities of the European Union Pacific.
Seam says having healthier oceans and a cleaner safe environment are part of the strategic priorities of the European Union as incorporated in the European Green deal.
Speaking through zoom, the Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliff says the BIEM Initiative and the PacwastePlus Project will be implemented in Fiji by the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with SPREP, line government ministries, and local communities and non-government organisations.
He says the establishment of these governance structures will provide the strategic direction in terms of management, planning and execution of the BIEM and PacwastePlus priorities in line with the desired funding allocations.
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