Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services
The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.
Fiji consists of more than 300 islands, most of which are volcanic, and about 100 are inhabited, covering a total land area of 18,376 square kilometers. The two largest islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu comprise more than 85% of the total area. Much of Fiji’s biodiversity is unique to Fiji and many species are not found anywhere else in the world. Fifty per cent or more of Fiji’s plants and birds, all 24 palms, 72 of the 76 species of Psychotria, both frogs, over 90% of some insect groups, such as cicadas and marine insects, are all endemic. Fiji’s forest covers 52.6% of Fiji’s landmass, estimated at 1.8 million hectares. Native forests are subdivided into 3 management categories, including preserved forests, protected forests and multiple use forests and over 80% of Fiji’s native forests are communally owned. The total number of vascular plants known is approximately 2,600, of which 1,600 are native and 1,000 introduced. Current best estimates suggest that Fijian flora consists of 310 pteridophytes and at least 2,225 seed plants. Out of a total of 27 reptile species, 12 are endemic. Fiji also has an extensive and high diversity of marine habitats, including estuaries, sea grass, macro-algal assemblages, protected and exposed soft shores, lagoons, coral reefs and slopes. In particular, the country has the third largest area of mangrove within the Pacific Island region (517 sq km). These marine habitats support a rich biodiversity, and a major subsistence and moderate commercial fisheries. However, despite its subsistence, commercial and conservation value, Fiji’s marine biodiversity is not very well known. So far, researchers have identified 1,198 species of fish, 1,056 marine invertebrates and approximately 1,000 coral reefs in Fiji.
Yet the rich biodiversity of the Fiji Islands and the ecosystems supporting it are now at risk. According to present research results, in terms of terrestrial biodiversity, 25% of bird species, 11.7% of mammals, 67% of amphibians, and 11% of reptiles and plants are already threatened or endangered. Marine biodiversity is also declining with 67% of known mammal species threatened or endangered. Most of the natural habitats are also in a degraded status. For instance, there has been a small but steady loss of good arable land to non-agricultural use over the last 30 years and mangroves have often been targeted for reclamation for sugar cane, rice and aquaculture, which has caused loss of fauna and flora biodiversity.
Biodiversity provides a great source of revenues for the economy of the Fiji Islands. Land and marine based natural resources are harvested for exports to improve Fiji’s foreign reserves for national economic development. In particular, the marine species trade industry contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), to foreign exchange earnings, and is a direct source of income and livelihood for the local communities. Furthermore, it is a well known fact that mangroves are very productive ecosystems which sustain the livelihood of coastal villagers and fishermen. Another important sector that relies heavily on natural resources is the tourism sector. As a matter of fact, Fiji’s main attraction is its natural environment and pristine marine waters. Fiji’s gross earnings from tourism for the first quarter of 2009 has been estimated at $167.6 million and is currently the main foreign revenue earner for Fiji.
Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)
The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.
Fiji’s biodiversity is constantly under pressure from all sectors. The main driver of threats to Fiji’s biodiversity is economic development and is mostly human induced. Threats include over-fishing and exploitation, pollution through agricultural and industrial wastes, urbanization, agricultural development and species introduction. Several species of fish, shellfish and crustaceans have notably been introduced into Fiji, mostly for aquaculture, as ornamentals, for sports fishing or biological controls. Finally, unplanned and uncoordinated tourism activities can become a major threat to Fiji’s biodiversity. In particular, habitat destruction in the coastal areas for tourism development is a major threat to Fiji’s biodiversity in the mangrove, estuaries, reef and foreshore ecosystems.
