FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
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Publication: 2014 Rapid Biodiversity Assessment, Socioeconomic Study and Archaeological Survey of the Greater Delaikoro Area

19/03/2015 Fiji

FAO provides technical assistance towards improved management of conservation and protected areas in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Niue.

In Fiji, the Greater Delaikoro Area is an upland region spanning the main mountain range of Vanua Levu, encompassing Mt Sorolevu (1,032m) Mt Delaikoro (928m), and the Waisali Reserve. This region is under consideration as a Protected Area.

The 2014 Rapid Biodiversity Assessment, Socioeconomic Study and Archaeological Survey of the Greater Delaikoro Area is a baseline assessment of biodiversity, socio-economic and archaeological surveys which were carried out in this area. This was the first systematic botanical survey of the area.

The assessment will be used as a basis to establish a larger Protected Area to conserve the Greater Delaikoro ecosystems and their biodiversity. The assessment was managed by the Department of Forest Fiji and carried out by a multidisciplinary team of 17 scientists from the Pacific under the guidance of the University of the South Pacific.

The biodiversity surveys comprised of findings of plants, insects, avifauna, freshwater fishes and macro invertebrates and herpetofauna. Invasive flora and fauna were also documented. The ecological range has been described with five different vegetation types form lowland rain forest to cloud forests on the highest mountains.

A sample of findings of the surveys included:

- 539 native plant species, 224 species are endemic to Fiji;
- 94 introduced plant species, eight recognized as invasive species;
- 207 new plant species ( this was the first systematic research done in this area) ;
- 24 out of 27 recorded land birds are endemic to Fiji, nine bird species restricted to Vanua Levu and nearby islands only.

Studies were also done of the socioeconomic status of communities living in and around the proposed protected area. Cultural landmarks located within the forest were documented by an archaeological team from the Fiji Museum.

The Greater Delaikoro mountain region and its forests act as an important water catchment area for the largest towns including the majority of people in Vanua Levu.

The assessment identified major threads to ecosystem and biodiversity and provides for helpful recommendations for the future conservation of this important area.

This research was carried out under the Forestry and Protected Area Management Project, a component of the Global Environment Facility - Pacific Alliance for Sustainability program (GEF-PAS program).

The overall objective of the GEF-PAS is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GEF support to Pacific Island countries, thereby enhancing achievement of both global environmental and national sustainable development goals.

For comprehensive details of the study, follow the link to download the report.