BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
In the ongoing effort to safeguard the Vuri Protected Area, the management committee responsible for the protected area has presented Identification (ID) cards to the Vuri Forest Conservation Area (VFCA) Rangers during a meeting of the PA management committee.
The Vuri forest in South Choiseul in Babatana Ward, consists of 15 rangers of which four are female rangers.
As stated by the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of MECDM, equipping rangers with ID cards enhances the enforcement powers and responsibilities of the Protected Areas rangers, who are appointed by their respective Management committees, as outlined in the Protected Areas Regulations 2012 (Part 12).
The issuance of these ID cards also signifies the identity and authority of the VFCA Rangers as essential protectors of the forest within the VFCA Protected Area.
The IDs will aid them in patrolling the protected areas, enforcing the rules and regulations of the management plan, and collaborating with local tribes and communities to encourage sustainable practices.
The handover ceremony was attended by members of the PA management committee and staff from Natural Resources Development Foundation (NRDF).
This initiative was supported by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
Photo:Supplied
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