A conservation NGO says it has signed an agreement to support a voyage of a traditional Fijian vaka sailing boat to a World Parks Congress being held in Australia later this year.
The memorandum of understanding between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Uto ni Yalo Trust means the vaka can sail into Sydney harbour where 3000 people from 160 countries will be gathering for the congress.
The IUCN says the World Parks Congress is a global forum about protected areas held once every ten years and the vaka will represent a Pacific voice on securing a sustainable future for its oceans, islands, people and heritage.
The Uto Ni Yalo sets sail from Fiji in mid-September, travelling via Vanuatu, New Caledonia and is due in Sydney for the opening of the Congress on the 12th of November.
