Suva/Nadi, Fiji, June 16 – 17, 2022. A small “Grove of Peace” was planted in Thurston Gardens, Suva – five trees provided by the Ministry of Forestry of Fiji. Thurston Gardens are the botanical gardens of Fiji. Gymnostoma vitiense was chosen as the Tree of Peace. In addition to the Tree of Peace, the following species have been planted: Garcinia myrtifolia, Decussocarpus vitiensis, Agathis macrophylla and Myristica castaneifolia. The main partner of the Tree of Peace initiative in Suva was the Suva City Council. The planting was personally attended by His Excellency Sujiro Seam, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Dr. Marek Sobola, Secretary-General of Servare et Manere as well as Mr. Azam Khan, Chief Executive Officer of City Council and Mr. Ronny Kumaran, another representative of the Suva City Council, and also by members of the Ministry of Forestry.

The planting in Suva also commemorated the third anniversary of the presidential mandate of Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic. Madam President was the first head of state to plant one of the Trees of Peace in 2019. It was also the first tree officially planted during her Presidential office.

After a planting in Suva, the implementation of the Tree of Peace project continued on June 17, at 9:00 am at the Tifajek Mud Pool and Hot Spring on Wailoko Road, Sabeto in Nadi, the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. This time, the Servare et Manere delegation was received by the traditional indigenous community. The planting, organized by the Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network, began with a traditional Kava ritual and the presentation of the work of the local community and the presentation of the ideas of the Tree of Peace. The Servare et Manere delegation was the first Slovaks to receive such an honour here. After the mutual exchange of gifts, a memorial tree was planted, which was the Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis). The memorial Tree of Pace was planted by members of the Slovak delegation together with Mr. Kyle Stice, Executive Director of the Pacific Farmer Organizations, along with Mr. Ilimeleki Susu, Director of the Sabeto Mud Pool and Chief Tevita Ratu Kaiava Celua. After the ceremonial planting, Marek Sobola was greatly honoured and together with the Chief Kaiava Celu opened a new Massage pavilion in the Spa.

Thanks to the Town of Žilina, Village of Divina and Slovak NGO Starý Klíž, our NGO was able to plant another Tree of Peace in Oceania.