A National Tree Planting Program launched in Nuku’alofa yesterday to mark the World Environment Awareness Week involved replacing the ‘Ovava tree in a place at ‘Alaki where Captain Cook rested in 1777.
The original ‘ovava (Banyan tree) was no longer existed and it was regularly replaced by new ‘ovava trees.
The CEO of the Disaster Management, Environment, Information, Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Climate Change and Communication (MEIDECC), Paula Ma’u planted the new ‘Ovava tree on Tuesday as another replacement of the old Ovava tree that was historically known as Malumalu ‘o Fulilangi (shading under the sky).
Ma’u was also assisted by the women of the community visiting around the place and looked at areas that required the ministry’s helps.
Known as Matanga Lilo Women Community Group, the women are taking care of the place.
The program was organized and facilitated by the Department of Environment and sponsored by the Tongan Ridge to Reef Integrated Environmental Management Plan of Fanga’uta Project.
