Fiji has inaugurated its first bamboo park, the Dakuinaroba Bamboo Park, in Namosi, offering visitors unique guided forest trails and community-led ecotourism initiatives that are already receiving enthusiastic responses from international travelers. Situated in Navunibau Village, the park is overseen by the Mataqali Namara Trust and was developed with the support of the Ministry of Forestry, entirely managed by the local landowning unit.
Paulo Rauto, the vice chairman of the trust, emphasized that the initiative aims to protect natural resources while generating sustainable income for families in the highlands. “Our ancestors depended mainly on subsistence farming such as yaqona and dalo,” Mr. Rauto stated, highlighting a commitment to both environmental stewardship and economic empowerment. He added that the project safeguards the forest while simultaneously enhancing the living standards of local families.
The park boasts a variety of amenities, including guided nature trails, picnic spots, a swimming pool, and a lookout hike. Future plans include the addition of exciting activities such as ziplining, abseiling, and rock climbing. The park’s concept initially emerged from cooperation between university students and village elders before evolving into a fully realized project through partnerships with Indigenous Took Airlines and the First Nations Fiji Foundation. The establishment of a deed of trust and the development of strategic plans, aided by Maximize Consultancy and funded by the Tourism Trade Fiji Board, paved the way for the park’s creation.
The construction and development efforts received full financial backing from the Ministry of Forestry, positioning the park as a key element of Fiji’s broader conservation and sustainable development strategy. In preparation for welcoming visitors, twenty local tour guides have been trained and certified in basic first aid, equipped to lead excursions through areas filled with traditional trees, medicinal plants, and crops.
Among the inaugural visitors to the park were German tourists Emily Weiss and Leonie Wittenstein, who shared their thoughts on the experience. “The trail was adventurous and slippery because of the rain, but the view was really beautiful,” Ms. Wittenstein remarked. She also noted the project’s positive impact on local employment and its sustainable approach, allowing people to enjoy the forest while protecting the local ecosystem.
Each trail within the park carries names honoring the ancestors of the mataqali, symbolizing the community’s commitment to managing and preserving their land for generations to come.
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