Thomson to champion unique reef
LICE MOVONO
15 January, 2018, 1:27 pm
Update: 1:27PM CONSERVATIONISTS working in Fiji and the region hope that the link the world’s first United Nations Special Envoy on Oceans has with the Cakau Levu barrier reef will boost a campaign to save the world’s reefs.
Ambassador Peter Thomson, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was raised in Macuata and he along with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will lead a high-level delegation to the reef known also as the Great Sea Reef (GSR) on Wednesday.
The two lead a visiting United Nations High-Level delegation, which also includes regional leaders who will travel to Vanua Levu to see first-hand the status of the GSR and also launch the Fiji International Year of the Reef (IYOR).
According to WWF Pacific that is organising the IYOR launch with Fijian Government, the GSR is a unique ecosystem.
WWF-Pacific policy officer Alfred Ralifo said the significance of the launch venue was tied also to Ambassador Thomson.
“Fiji’s Great Sea Reef has been identified nationally by various experts as one of the five globally significant marine areas in Fiji simply because of its unique ecological, economical, biological and cultural values,” Mr Ralifo said.
The 20-member delegation includes community leaders whose people live off of the GSR.
“The main objectives of the IYOR are to strengthen awareness globally, regionally and nationally about the value of, and threats to, coral reefs and associated ecosystems,” Mr Ralifo said.
