The plaque unveiled by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Tupou college has been installed in the ‘Eua rainforest.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dedicated two forest reserves to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy during their visit to the college in late October.
Minister of Agriculture Hon. Semisi Fakahau and the Ministry’s CEO, Dr. Viliami Manu travelled to ‘Eua to witness the installation of the plaque.
The Ministry committed Tonga to the Queen’s Conservation Canopy project, a network of forest conservation initiatives, which involves all 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The QCC is committed to raising awareness within the Commonwealth of the value of indigenous forests and to saving them for future generations.
The Ministry of Agriculture nominated the ‘Eua National Park Reserve and the Toloa Forest Reserve as part of the international conservation scheme.
Toloa is the largest and most intact remnant of a tropical lowland vegetation that once covered the central part of the island.
Tupou College, the current custodian of the estate where the rainforest is located, has an active role in the management of the site.
This includes eliminating invasive species, internal replanting and reforestation of the sides to facilitate natural expansion.
Eua is home to Tonga’s only National Forest Park and hosts a number of Tonga’s local flora and fauna species.
Unfortunately, ‘Eua is also considered to be among the most vulnerable of Tonga’s 176 islands to the affects of climate change.
Work is being undertaken with the local community to manage ‘Eua’s watershed, protect the ecosystem services it provides, as well as promote sustainable agriculture practices and land management technologies.
A representative from the Pacific Community is helping train growers on the island about ways to prevent damage to their yam crops.
Other QCC projects in the Pacific are located in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
The main points
- The plaque unveiled by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Tupou been installed in the ‘Eua rainforest.
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dedicated two forest reserves to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy during their visit to the college in late October.
- Minister of Agriculture Hon. Semisi Fakahau and the Ministry’s CEO, Dr. Viliami Manu travelled to ‘Eua to witness the installation of the plaque.
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