Social Capital and Vanua: Challenges to Governance Development in a Community-Based Natural Resource Management Project in Cuvu Tikina, Fiji Islands
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2008 Social Capital and Vanua: Challenges to Governance Development in a Community-Based Natural Resource Management Project in Cuvu Tikina, Fiji Islands Paul David Clark The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Clark, Paul David, "Social Capital and Vanua: Challenges to Governance Development in a Community- Based Natural Resource Management Project in Cuvu Tikina, Fiji Islands" (2008). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 894. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/894 This Professional Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SOCIAL CAPITAL AND VANUA: CHALLENGES TO GOVERNANCE DEVELOPMENT IN A COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT IN CUVU TIKINA, FIJI ISLANDS By Paul David Clark Bachelor of Arts, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, 1999 Professional Paper presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Resource Conservation, International Conservation and Development The University of Montana Missoula, MT Spring 2008 Approved by: Dr. David A. Strobel, Dean Graduate School Dr. R. Neil Moisey, Chair Society and Conservation Dr. Jill M. Belsky Society and Conservation Dr. George Stanley Geosciences Clark, Paul. M.S., May 2008 Resource Conservation Social Capital and Vanua: Challenges to Governance Development in a Community- Based Natural Resource Management Project in Cuvu Tikina, Fiji Islands Chairperson: Dr. R. Neil Moisey Indigenous Fijians believe that survival of their culture is inextricably linked to their position as land and resource owners. This is summed up in the dual meaning of the term ‗vanua‘, which literally means land but also symbolizes the cultural and socio-political traditions of the people. These traditions form the basis of Fiji‘s natural resource management system and the production of social capital in Fijian villages. Due to legally recognized resource tenure and the communal nature of village living, Fiji has been a popular site for community-based natural resource management projects (CBNRM). The aim of these projects is to empower local communities and leaders with knowledge and resources to improve the management and governance of their natural resources. Despite a significant amount of time and effort put into governance development, many CBNRM initiatives fail to achieve their goals. The purpose of this study is to identify challenges faced by Partners in Community Development-Fiji in implementing governance development activities during the Coral Gardens Initiative in Cuvu Tikina from 1999-2003 and to also explain why these challenges emerged during the project. Using the framework of analytic ethnography, data gained through PCDF‘s project documents, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation are used to identify and explain the challenges. Ten challenges are identified that show how the interactions between key players affected, and continue to alter, the results of the project. These challenges were created by a combination of influences including PCDF‘s approach, pre-existing social tensions amongst the stakeholders, and cultural and location-specific constraints. The impact of pre-existing social capital and how the project affected this social capital is also examined. Seven specific recommendations are offered to CBNRM facilitators and village participants, including the importance of understanding community dynamics, building strong internal and external networks, utilizing the pre-existing governance institutions, and using an asset-based approach. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study would not have been possible without the assistance of many people on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. First, I thank Ratu Sakiusa Makutu, Na Turaga na Kalevu, Ratu Tevita M. Volavola and Ratu Timoci Volavola, and all of the people of Cuvu Village and the other villages in Cuvu Tikina, who not only participated in this research but also gave their time in implementing numerous environmental-related activities during my two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji from 2005-2007. A special thanks to Dr. Austin Bowden-Kirby, Fulori Nainoca, and Etika Sing from PCDF and Dr. Bill Aalbersberg, Batiri Hughes, Alifereti Bogiva, and Sakiusa Fong from the Institute of Applied Science at the University of the South Pacific for teaching me so much about community-based projects in Fiji and giving me the opportunity to work with their organizations. Finally, I thank Erami Seavula and other civil servants at the Nadroga/Navosa Provincial Office for their input. I‘d also like to recognize my advisor, Dr. Neil Moisey, and other committee members, Dr. Jill M. Belsky and Dr. George Stanley, for their flexibility and willingness to work with me despite very busy schedules off-campus. And last but of course not least, I thank my family, Peace Corps volunteers in Fiji, and fellow graduate students who endured many discussions concerning my research without complaint and provided valuable feedback and insight into the subjects presented in this paper. Vinaka vakalevu! iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN FIJI ................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2: CODIFYING VANUA - THE EVOLUTION OF FIJIAN NATURAL RESOURCE GOVERNANCE ........................................................................................... 8 An Overview of the Fiji Islands .......................................................................... 8 Vanua: the evolution of Fijian governance and resource co-management ....... 13 Foundations of vanua: Pre-colonial Fiji and the Deed of Cession ............... 14 Codifying vanua : establishing Fijian tradition as law from 1874-1970 ...... 16 Protecting vanua: land and resource tenure from 1940-present ................... 20 Vanua today: co-management and governance in a Fijian village ................... 24 The co-management system .......................................................................... 24 The local Fijian governance institutions ....................................................... 25 Limitations of the co-management system ................................................... 26 CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW – SOCIAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY- BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECTS ................................. 29 The concept of social capital............................................................................. 29 Social capital and Fijian culture ........................................................................ 35 The influence of Fijian culture on social capital production ........................ 35 Important components of Fijian culture for social capital production .......... 37 Summary of social capital in a Fijian context ............................................... 41 CBNRM in the South Pacific: challenges and successes.................................. 43 iv Advantages and problems with CBNRM ..................................................... 43 Challenges in CBNRM projects in Fiji ......................................................... 46 Successes of CBNRM in South Pacific ........................................................ 48 Summary of CBNRM in the South Pacific ....................................................... 49 CHAPTER 4: SETTING................................................................................................... 52 Cuvu Tikina ...................................................................................................... 52 Demographics ............................................................................................... 52 Land and Fishing Grounds ............................................................................ 53 Economic development and pollution .......................................................... 54 History of Cuvu............................................................................................. 56 The Coral Gardens Initiative and other CBNRM Projects in Cuvu Tikina ...... 59 PCDF: Wai Bulabula and the Coral Gardens Initiative ................................ 60 Other CBNRM projects in Cuvu Tikina ....................................................... 64 CHAPTER 5: METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 71 Ethnographic approach ..................................................................................... 71 Research methods ............................................................................................. 73 Analysis............................................................................................................