One hundred and twenty-nine team captains took spades in hand at Damodar Arts Village in Pacific Harbour yesterday, turning a pre-match gesture into a public statement on environmental responsibility and youth education alongside the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s.
The tree-planting exercise, organised by the Damodar Group of Companies in partnership with the Ministry of Forestry, saw captains from the tournament’s participating teams join staff and community members to plant saplings across the arts village grounds. Damodar Group chief executive Div Damodar described the activity as “a landmark statement” that underlined the company’s commitment to the environment and to young Fijians. “It’s a landmark statement that we’re putting out there that the environment is very important to us, for us; not just for us Fijians but also for the Pacific,” he said.
Damodar framed the planting as part of a broader program at the Damodar Arts Village aimed at reconnecting youth with culture, sport and the natural world. “What we’re doing here at the Damodar Arts Village is bringing back our culture and sports and the environment to the youth of Fiji, so it’s part of our program… and we’re looking forward to that education going further,” he said, stressing the educational intent behind the initiative.
The involvement of team captains — prominent figures in one of Fiji’s most-watched domestic sevens events — was intended to send a visible signal that sporting leadership can extend beyond the field. By physically taking part in the planting, captains leveraged their public profiles to promote hands-on conservation and to encourage young fans to see environmental stewardship as part of community life.
The partnership with the Ministry of Forestry formalises links between private-sector initiatives and government reforestation efforts, although organisers did not disclose the number or species of trees planted. Ministry officials were present to advise on the planting and to ensure saplings were sited for longer-term survival, organisers said.
The exercise adds to a string of community and corporate actions in Fiji aimed at boosting reforestation, biodiversity protection and climate resilience. Damodar’s initiative links cultural programming at the arts village with practical environmental work, reflecting a growing trend in the country to combine education, heritage and conservation in grassroots projects.
Organisers said the tree-planting activity will be part of ongoing work at Damodar Arts Village and that further educational outreach will follow, seeking to build on the momentum of yesterday’s event and to involve more young people and sports personalities in environmental care.
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