Selection of National Priorities for Terrestrial Conservation
Terrestrial Protected Area Gap Analysis The National Trust of
Fiji
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Outline Background National Target Setting Gap Analysis Process
Gaps Identified How gaps filled Preliminary Results
Conclusions
Slide 3
Background The Program of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA) was
adopted by the 7 th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD COP-7) in 2004. The overall purpose of
PoWPA is to support the establishment and maintenance of
comprehensive, effectively managed, and ecologically representative
national and regional systems of protected areas.
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National context Establishment of a representative system of
Protected Areas (PA) is a national priority under Fiji's National
Biodiversity and Action Plan. PA system to include variety of
protected areas that are important both local and provincial
level.
Slide 5
Key steps in a protected area gap analysis (Dudley and
Parish,2006
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Fijis Current Status of Biodiversity Flora_FaunaTotalExtinct
Threat enedindigenousEndemicsExoticsIntroduced Ferns 304 21688
Flowering Plants/Gymnosperm 2337 67884779319 Tree Species 382
Commercial Timber 104 Potential Ornamental Species 148 Native
Breeding Land Birds 573131927 11 Native Breeding Sea Birds 19
Mammals 612 1 5 Amphibians 212 2 1 Reptiles 2618 10 0 Source: Fiji
Government, NBSAP Action Plan, 2007; Fiji Government, NRI Report
volume 3, 2010
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Identifications of conservation targets at National Level
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Step 1 Mapping of the Vegetation Type as Target
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Major Vegetation Type
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Level 1 Habitat Medium Major Habitat Type Fine Scale Habitat
Species TerrestrialTropical Moist ForestCloud forest (19.2%)
Endemic plants 11% Endemic palms (37% Sago palm (0 Birds (42%) Bats
(100% Reptiles :100% Amphibians:50% Land snails: 63% Upland forest-
(13.2%) Lowland forest 3.7% Tropical dry ForestDry forest -1 %
Freshwater Tropical Island Freshwater System Fresh Water Bodies:
14% Freshwater fauna :2% Rivers/Streams: Freshwater wetland
vegetation Mangrove 0% Peat and sago swamp:0% Percentage habitat
and species target currently represented within the protected area
system.
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Vegetation Type Target % Protected(under PA) % Required to fill
the Gap Percentage Gaps Filled from Proposed Protected Areas.
Cloud/Montane10019.28178 Upland10013.28735 Lowland 60 % managed 40
% Protected 3.7 36.317 Dry forest1001 33 Mangrove1000 32 Freshwater
bodies Streams 1001486 Peat/Sago Swamp 1000 Analysis of target
protected against Protected Areas
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Data Derived from National Prioritisation Exercise o Important
Bird Areas (14 sites Identified 2006) o Key Bio-diversity Areas 39
sites- 2009. o Sites of National Significance o Existing Protected
Areas - Terrestrial, Freshwater & Marine o Proposed Protection
Forest 40 sites Forty Target Sites identified with the Existing PA
Nine criteria against which the proposed sites were selected.
1.Endemic Biodiversity Richness 2.Number of Vegetation Types
3.Size. 4.Degradation 5.Scarcity/Replicability 6.Conservation
Practicality 7.Economic Importance 8. Cultural Importance
9.Priority Connectivity of Forest Areas with Marine Thirty of the
Forty Proposed sites have been identified as the proposed Protected
Areas
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#CriteriaExplanation Scale 1-3 1 Endemic Biodiversity Richness
The EBR of that particular forest site in comparison with other
sites of the same forest site 1 - Low EBR; 2- Ave EBR; 3 - High EBR
2 Number of Vegetation Types Number of forest/vegetation types
(refer table - 8 potential types) 1-8 3 Economic Importance Known
economic importance other than for exploitation. I.e. important
watershed (steep, upland slopes); watercatchment (existing water
supply or hydropower); tourism; climate influence 1 - Low 2 -
Average 3 - High 4 Size Size of forest area (ha) 0 - 0-1,000; 1 -
1-10,000; 2 - 10-20,000; 3 >20,000 5 Degradation Area of
secondary forest, logging, roads, amount of closed forest and non-
forest etc. 1 - High 2 - Ave 3 - Low 6 Scarcity/Replicability Is
the site' forest type replicated elsewhere 1 - Yes; 2 - Partly; 3 -
No 7 Conservation Practicality Purported ease in attaining
conservation - contributing factors: tenure; significant production
forest; number of mataqali; known mataqali attitudes. Govt Dept
Plans 1 - Difficult 2 - Average 3 - Less difficult 8 Cultural
Importance Areas of Known Cultural Significance - National Profile
0 - No1 - Yes 9 Priority Connectivity Forest Areas (Marine Group)
Marine Group has identified these 7 catchments. Significant
contribution/ component of Ecosystems Function 0 - No1 - Yes The 9
rating criteria used to select the high priority conservation
forests
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ISLAND/ ISLAND GROUP PFC EBR VT EI Size Deg SR CP CI PCA
Taveuni Taveuni Forest Reserve and Bouma National Heritage Park,
Taveuni 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 1 23 Viti LevuNadrau Plateau 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 20
Viti LevuTomanivi/Wabu 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 19 Viti Levu Sovi Basin
& Korobasabasaga 2 3 2 3 3 1 3 1 18 Viti Levu Mt Evans/
Koroyanitu, Vaturu 3 3 3 2 3 3 1 18 Viti Levu Waimanu (Nakobalevu
to Nakoro) 3 2 3 3 2 2 1 1 17 Part of detailed Results from 9
rating Criteria
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Highest priority Areas Higher score Viti Levu reflects the
greater endemic biodiversity richness. VitiLevu Site Score Ranking
Nadrau Plateau 20 VH Tomanivi/Wabu 19 VH Sovi Basin &
Korobasabasaga 18 H Mt Evans 18 H Koroyanitu, Vaturu 18 H Waimanu
(Nakobalevu to Nakoro) 17 M Nakauvadra 16 M Nakorotubu 15 M Eastern
Serua 14 M Vatia 9 L Site ScoreRanking Taveuni23VH Taveuni emerges
as the highest priority area
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Priority ranking for Vanua Levu Vanua Levu Site Score Ranking
Mt Seatura, Bua 17 H Tunuloa/Natewa 16 H Dogotuki 16 H Koroalau 15
M Delaikoro 15 M Kubulau 13 M Dikeva 12 L Vatuvonu 12 L Saqani 11 L
Rokosalase 11 L Naicobocobo 10 L Vanua Levu has more, smaller sites
with greater replicability, Without significant upland/cloud forest
habitat and greater degradation through logging.
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Priority ranking for Larger & Smaller Islands Gau14 H
Koronibanuve - Kadavu14 H Mt Washington Kadavu13 H Ovalau12M
Koro12M Moala11M Most distinctive Invertebrate Fauna In terms of
percentage single Island Endemism
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Smaller Islands SiteScore Rankin g Vuaqava12H Sawa-i-Lau12H
Namenalala11M Monuriki & Monu11M Rotuma11M Macuata Island10L
Makodroga10L Ogea10L Vatuvara9L Kuata9L Qamea & Laucala8L
Yaduataba8L The conservation importance of these Islands have to be
measured in a different manner i.e gaps or irreplaceable
opportunities (Crested Iguana,, dry forest etc). The broad
distribution of PFC may also capture some of the poorly known
species.
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Priority Ratings Maps..
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Analysis of percentage land area protected under existing and
proposed PA. Summary of Terrestrial Protected Total (sq/km) % Land
Area Protected Existing PA501.23 2.7 Proposed PA3149.7881 17.2
Total Land Area18300 19.9
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Selection of PA provided based on its potential to provide a
representative system. A positive step to the sustainable
protection conservation and management of Fijis terrestrial and
marine resources. Better coordination amongst relevant stakeholders
is very important in the establishment and management of Protected
Areas. Conclusion
Slide 27
Vinaka Vakalevu Sigatoka Sand Dune National Park Fijian Crested
Iguana Fiji Orange Dove in Taveuni Cloud Forest @ Mt. Victoria Fiji
Tree Frog Medrau Sucu Range Acknowledgement: Dr Stacy Jupiter,
Director WCS. The National Protected Areas Committee. Director
National Trust - Mrs. Elizabeth Erasito
