Mr Silio LalaqilaSustaining Biodiversity and

Livelihoods in the Natewa Tunuloa Peninsula, Fiji

Contents

• Natewa Tunuloa Important Bird Area

• Sisi Initiative Site Support Group

• Achievements / Milestones

• Next Steps

Map of Fiji & the Project Site

Natewa Tunuloa Important Bird Area

• 1 of 14 Important Bird Areas in Fiji

• 176 sq km/17, 600 ha to an altitude of 832m

• 1 site endemic bird (Silktail – Lamprolia victoriae kleinschmidti).

• 2 birds endemic to Vanua Levu (Red shinning parrot & Orange dove)

• Supports 21 species out of the 24 in Vanua Levu

• Landownership comprises 30+ clans residing in 15 villages (not including settlements) in two districts

Problems Faced by the Communities

Heavy rain, rivers overflow, banks get flooded resulting in runoff & floods in villages

Soil erosion which destroys crops

Runoff/muddy water destroying marine environment

Diminishing number of our totem bird (Silktail) due to destruction of habitat through unsustainable logging

Management Actions Identified Participatory processes with communities identified the following actions:

Reduce run-off & soil erosion so we can have better crop yield

Increase number of birds by improving their habitats

Provision of alternative livelihood for communities – less pressure is put on forests

Sisi Initiative Site Support Group

Established in 2005 14 members (men, women, youth) Governance Structure with an Active Committee

(Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer) Roles

Monitor conservation actions within the IBA Progress of the livelihood projects Updates to the District & Provincial Council

meetings Reporting to BirdLife International on

activities completed

Communities agreed to establish a conservation group to lead on management actions:

Activities Undertaken at IBA 2005 – 2008 Community consultations &

meetings in 15 villages at IBAPresentations at district & provincial

council meetings 2008 Government Stakeholder

consultations with communities 2009 Signing of Memorandum of

Understand for 6villages/11 clans (for protection of forests)

Drafting of Management Plan 2010 Start-Your-Business Training

Livelihoods Project Training Fundraising & Proposal Writing

Training Participatory Land Use Planning

2011 Awarded a GEF-SGP Grant 2012 Ecotourism Project Consultation

2 Sandalwood & native tree nurseries completed

2012 Equator Prize Winner

Results & Impacts

Results & Impacts

Challenges

• Not all projects have been successful.

• Sisi Initiative regularly monitors progress and have identified problems such as:– Lack of understanding and support from communities

– Information, advice and Capacity Building

– Need for research partner

– More support from government

– Lack of funds

– Project team lose interest – no regular demand for product

Key Achievements

• Equator Initiative Award in Rio (June 2012)

• Been recognized locally as locals taking the lead on conservation work in Natewa Tunuloa

• IBA receiving more grants to extend work in the entire Natewa Tunuloa Landscape (from the Satoyama Initiative COMDEKS Programme)

Lessons Learned

Communication/Networking with Communities & Government is critical – bottom up approach – Participatory Approach

Education/Capacity Building

Livelihoods

Protected Area Status

Next Steps

• Link with national & international Support Groups to share lessons learnt & success stories

• Work with Fiji Government to fully implement the Satoyama Initiative COMDEKS Programme

Acknowledgement

• Government of Fiji through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs – Cakaudrove Provincial Council

• BirdLife International

• NatureFiji – MareqetiViti

• GEF Small Grants Programme

• Darwin Initiative

• Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund

• Regional Natural Heritage Programme

Vinaka vakalevu

Thank you for listening

Questions?