Alitia Bainivalu, the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, has been designated as the advocacy champion for the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter, known as the Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands (CALL) strategy. The CALL was formally adopted during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda, in June 2022.
The initiative aims to protect global land resources, implement coordinated efforts to combat climate change, address biodiversity loss, and tackle land degradation and desertification. Additionally, it promotes sustainable and climate-resilient land management practices.
In her new role, Bainivalu will collaborate with other advocacy champions from various nations in the Pacific region, including New Zealand, Tonga, Australia, and Samoa. She will also lead efforts as the champion for the thematic working group focused on “Indigenous People and Local Communities and Climate Resilient Development.”