Forest and Trees

Forests and trees play significant roles in the lives of Pacific Islanders, economically, socially, culturally and environmentally. In many Pacific island countries, especially on the smaller islands and atolls, agroforestry and tree crops provide most of the food, medicines, construction materials, firewood, tools and myriad of other products and services that cannot be replaced with imported substitutions. For the larger countries, forests have contributed significantly into their economic development in terms of foreign exchange earnings, employment and infrastructure development. Thus, a major challenge for Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) is to ensure sustainable management of their scarce and diminishing forest and tree resources, taking into account demands for economic development and the social and environmental needs of their growing populations, LRD-SPC is addressing this under its Forest & Tree programme.

Ratukalou appointed as director of SPC’s Land Resource Division
Thursday, 21 March 2013 16:46

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) recently announced the appointment of Mr Inoke Ratukalou as its new Director of the Land Resources Division, based in Suva, Fiji.

Ratukalou, who is from Fiji, joined SPC in 2006 after an illustrious career with Fiji’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), spanning a total of 26 years. He held several key positions in the ministry, leading to his appointment as Director of the Land Resources Planning and Development Division in 2002. He joined SPC as the Land Management and Resource Planning Adviser in 2006.

Ratukalou brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise. He has a degree in earth science and geography, a diploma in tropical agriculture, a post-graduate diploma in aerial photo-interpretation and remote sensing techniques, a post-graduate certificate in management, and a master’s degree in business administration.

His technical expertise is in land, agriculture and forestry development and management, and he has sound knowledge and understanding of land resource development challenges in the Pacific.

Ratukalou has been acting in the position of Director of the Land Resources Division since 2010, when the former director, Aleki Sisifa, left the organisation.

He is well known to Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services in Pacific Island countries and territories, with whom he has worked during his tenure as Acting Director of the Land Resources Division.

He was recently accorded a Fijian traditional ceremony, Vakamamaca, by the staff members of SPC’s Land Resources Division to welcome him to his new position and also express their appreciation and confidence in his leadership.

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(For further information please contact Vinesh Prasad on telephone (679)3370733, email LRD Help Desk on email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the SPC website: www.spc.int.)

 

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