Selection of National Priorities for Terrestrial

ConservationTerrestrial Protected Area

Gap Analysis

The National Trust of Fiji

Outline• Background• National Target Setting• Gap Analysis Process• Gaps Identified• How gaps filled• Preliminary Results• Conclusions

Background The Program of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA)

was adopted by the 7th 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.

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.

Key steps in a protected area gap analysis (Dudley and Parish,2006

Fiji’s Current Status of Biodiversity

Flora_Fauna TotalExtinct

Threatened

indigenous

Endemics Exotics Introduced

Ferns 304 216 88 Flowering Plants/Gymnosperm 2337 678 847 793 19Tree Species 382 Commercial Timber 104 Potential Ornamental Species 148 Native Breeding Land Birds 57 3 13 19 27 11Native Breeding Sea Birds 19 Mammals 6 1 2 1 5Amphibians 2 1 2 2 1Reptiles 26 1 8 10 0

Source: Fiji Government , NBSAP Action Plan, 2007; Fiji Government, NRI Report volume 3, 2010

Identifications of conservation targets at National Level

Step 1Mapping of the Vegetation Type as Target

Major Vegetation Type

Cloud/Montane Forest

Dry Forest Lowland Rainforest Mangroves Upland Rainforest Kaarst Forest Wetlands0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

Percentage Habitat Type

Habitat Type

Perc

enta

ge

Level 1Habitat Medium

Major Habitat Type

Fine Scale Habitat

Species

Terrestrial Tropical Moist Forest Cloud forest – (19.2%) Endemic plants 11%Endemic palms (37%Sago palm (0Birds (42%)Bats (100%Reptiles :100%Amphibians:50%Land snails: 63%

Upland forest- (13.2%)Lowland forest – 3.7%

Tropical dry Forest Dry 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.

Vegetation Type Target % Protected(under PA)

% Required to fill the Gap

Percentage Gaps Filled from Proposed

Protected Areas.Cloud/Montane 100 19.2 81 78

Upland 100 13.2 87 35

Lowland 60 % managed

40 % Protected

3.7 36.3 17

Dry forest 100 1 33

Mangrove 100 0 100 32Freshwater

bodiesStreams

100 14 86

Peat/Sago Swamp

100 0 100

Analysis of target protected against Protected Areas

Data Derived from National Prioritisation Exerciseo 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 & Marineo 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. Degradation5. Scarcity/Replicability6. Conservation

Practicality7. Economic Importance8. Cultural Importance 9. Priority Connectivity of

Forest Areas with Marine

Thirty of the Forty Proposed sites have been identified as the proposed Protected Areas

# Criteria Explanation Scale 1-3 

1 

Endemic Biodiversity RichnessThe 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 - Low2 - Average3 - 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 - High2 - Ave3 - 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 - Difficult2 - Average3 - Less difficult 

8 

Cultural Importance Areas of Known Cultural Significance - National Profile

0 - No 1- Yes

 9

Priority Connectivity Forest Areas(Marine Group)

Marine Group has identified these 7 catchments. Significant contribution/ component of Ecosystems Function

 0 - No 1- Yes

The 9 rating criteria used to select the high priority conservation forests

ISLAND/ISLAND GROUP

 PFC

 EBR

 VT

 EI

 Size

 Deg

 SR

 CP

 CI

 PCA

 

Σ

Taveuni Taveuni ForestReserve and Bouma National Heritage Park, Taveuni

 3

 4

 3

 3

 3

 3

 3  

 1

 23

Viti Levu Nadrau Plateau 

3 

3 

3 

3 

2 

3 

3     

20

Viti Levu Tomanivi/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

Highest priority Areas

Higher score Viti Levu reflects the greater endemic biodiversity richness.

VitiLevuSite Score Ranking

Nadrau Plateau 20 VHTomanivi/Wabu 19 VHSovi Basin & Korobasabasaga 18 H

Mt Evans 18 HKoroyanitu, Vaturu 18 H

Waimanu (Nakobalevu to Nakoro)

17 M

Nakauvadra 16 MNakorotubu 15 MEastern Serua 14 MVatia 9 L

Site Score Ranking

Taveuni 23 VH

Taveuni emerges as the highest priority area

Priority ranking for Vanua Levu

Vanua LevuSite Score Ranking

Mt Seatura, Bua 17 HTunuloa/Natewa 16 HDogotuki 16 HKoroalau 15 MDelaikoro 15 MKubulau 13 MDikeva 12 LVatuvonu 12 LSaqani 11 LRokosalase 11 LNaicobocobo 10 L

Vanua Levu has more, smaller sites with greater replicability, Without significant upland/cloud forest habitat and greater degradation through logging.

Priority ranking for Larger & Smaller IslandsGau 14 HKoronibanuve - Kadavu 14 HMt Washington Kadavu 13 HOvalau 12 MKoro 12 MMoala 11 M

Most distinctive Invertebrate FaunaIn terms of percentage single Island Endemism

Smaller Islands

Site ScoreRankin

gVuaqava 12 HSawa-i-Lau 12 HNamenalala 11 MMonuriki & Monu 11 MRotuma 11 MMacuata Island 10 LMakodroga 10 LOgea 10 LVatuvara 9 LKuata 9 LQamea & Laucala 8 LYaduataba 8 L

The conservation importanceof 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.

Priority Ratings Maps..

Analysis of percentage land area protected under existing and

proposed PA.

Summary of Terrestrial ProtectedTotal (sq/km)

% Land Area Protected

Existing PA 501.23 2.7Proposed PA 3149.7881 17.2Total Land Area 18300 19.9

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

Vinaka Vakalevu

Sigatoka Sand Dune National Park

Fijian Crested Iguana

Fiji Orange Dove in Taveuni

Cloud Forest @ Mt. Victoria

Fiji Tree FrogMedrau

Sucu Range

Acknowledgement:• Dr Stacy Jupiter, Director WCS.• The National Protected Areas Committee.• Director National Trust - Mrs. Elizabeth Erasito