Suva, Fiji, September 18, 2024 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) marked World Bamboo Day at Colo-I-Suva Forest Park, in partnership with the Fiji Ministry of Forestry and dedicated stakeholders. This global observance raises awareness about bamboo, emphasizing its sustainable production and use, and the multiple transformative impacts on the economy and people.

Celebrated every year on September 18, this year’s World Bamboo Day was marked under the theme: “Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation, and Design.” The event not only celebrates the importance of bamboo but also reinforces the commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship in Fiji and beyond.

The project “Fiji Bamboo to Adapt and Mitigate Climate Change” was prominently highlighted among other several government initiatives, showcasing its efforts to promote resilient, innovative, sustainable and affordable bamboo cultivation in the region while underscoring the project’s commitment to community empowerment, particularly for women and marginalized groups, and emphasized the importance of bamboo in fostering environmental resilience and supporting economic development in Fiji.

Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, the Honorable Alitia Bainivalu, outlined key initiatives for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, including the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for bamboo inventory. This will guide inventory work across provinces, enhancing resource management.

The Minister further highlighted the Ministry’s plan to launch research and development trials to assess bamboo’s durability in construction, analyzing data to explore its potential for building resilient structures. she further emphasized, on the plans for developing a bamboo plantation to serve as a genetic pool for Fiji’s bamboo species to promote sustainable management, and advance research efforts.

Norbert Maass, GGGI Country Representative for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Vanuatu, stated that the “Fiji Bamboo to Adapt to and Mitigate Climate Change” project aims to support the sustainable and inclusive production of bamboo as a resilient and cost-effective construction material. This initiative will also focus on empowering women and marginalized groups, recognizing their vital role in sustainable bamboo production and use.

Mr. Maass expressed appreciation for the support of the Fiji Ministry of Forestry, Fiji Ministry of Public Works and other dedicated stakeholders for coming together to celebrate the World Bamboo Day and their support to the Fiji Bamboo project.

About Fiji Bamboo to Adapt and Mitigate Climate Change Project

The project is being implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute with a coalition of Government and non-Government partners both locally and internationally and supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) and Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland under the Low Emissions and Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) Phase 2 Pacific regional program.

About Low Emissions Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) Program 

The Low Emissions Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) in the Pacific Program supports Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) to transition to low-emissions climate resilient development through assistance with long-term inclusive planning and decision-making. The program entered Phase II in October 2023 and will continue to focus on policy-level support while expanding into more Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and implementing with delivery partners. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the program is being implemented in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

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(GGGI Pacific) 
Arrabothu Dheeraj, Senior Regional Programs Officer, Pacific and Manager – Fiji Bamboo project 
arrabothu.dheeraj@gggi.org 

(GGGI Seoul HQ) 
Mona Laczo, Communications & Knowledge Sharing Unit Head 
mona.laczo@gggi.org