CONSERVATION AREA LIVE LINK A newsletter for Conservation Areas in the Pacific Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 ISSN 1562-4935

CONTENTS Why is monitoring an important management tool? The impacts of the Funafuti Conservation Area on local biodiversity and the community 1 Why is monitoring an important management Claudia Ludescher Biodiversity Officer, Funafuti Conservation Area Project tool? The impacts of the Funafuti Conservation Area on local The Funafuti Conservation Area (FCA) encompasses six of the atoll’s 36 islets biodiversity and the and surrounding reefs, channels, lagoon and ocean terrace habitat on the west- community ern side of Funafuti atoll in Tuvalu. Claudia Ludescher This project aims to conserve the marine and terrestrial biodiversity of Funafuti 4 Profiting from natural atoll based on the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of the resources community and their descendants. 5 Conservation Area Summaries The area is around 33 square kilometres in size and Aim of the Funafuti Conservation Area 8 Training in community- includes 20 per cent of Funafuti’s reefs and 40 per Project based natural resource cent of the atoll’s tropical broadleaf woodland. Lo- To conserve the marine and terrestrial biodiversity management planning cally significant populations of sea birds, coconut of Funafuti atoll based on the sustainable use of crabs, reef fish and clams use or inhabit this area. 9 Naturewalks into the natural resources for the benefit of the community Takitumu Conservation Although no people live inside the CA (15 kilome- and their descendants. Area (TCA) tres over the lagoon from the main settlement), all Ian Karika Wilmott the land is either individually or communally owned, Resource management tools currently used to ad- 11 The Kakerori Story and in the past was used for fishing, hunting cray- dress this aim are: Dr Hugh Robertson fish, birds and coconut crabs and collecting leaves 1 The closure of the Funafuti Conservation Area and wood. 12 A visit to the Vatthe to all forms of fishing, hunting and collecting, Conservation Area, Santo, Vanuatu Conservation Officer teaching class 8 boys about the biodiversity of the CA Joe Reti 14 A network of small, community-owned Village Fish Reserves in Samoa Jennifer Kallie 16 News Brief

1 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3SPREP JulyÐSeptember 1999 South Pacific Regional Environment Programme except for green and brown coconuts. The distribution and changes in populations of benefit of this method of fisheries management important animals and plants found inside the is to allow populations to reproduce and CA. individuals to grow to a size (in the case of fish 2 To compare patterns inside the area with and crabs) where they produce an exponent- those occurring in unprotected parts of the ially larger amount of eggs. This can result in a atoll in order to identify any beneficial impacts Conservation Area becoming a source of the FCA is having. juvenile fish, crabs and birds for other parts of To date, we have been monitoring our reef eco- the atoll. As the area becomes crowded with systems and sea-bird populations. fish (within five years), the adult fish will also migrate out onto the fishing ground (Russ and Reef ecosystems Alcala 1996). 2 The establishment and implementation of To answer the question of whether protection is education and awareness programmes to helping to increase our fisheries resources, we have enhance understanding and care for the needs a robust scientific survey design and methods which and benefits of natural resource management. compare abundance and diversity of indicator or- ganisms at a number of impact sites (within CA) 3 The establishment of a management body and and control (outside CA) sites. Within these sites, by-laws for the management of the Conserva- we take samples in each habitat (lagoon, reef slope, tion Area. reef top and ocean reef terrace) as different spe- These tools will not be successful individually be- cies prefer different habitats. We need to complete cause: 7 replicate 30m x 10m transects for each of the ❚ we cannot close a fishing and hunting ground following monitoring tasks: fish abundance and per- without the understanding and support of the cent coral and algae cover. This is in order to ac- whole community; count for the natural variability within the sites and ❚ we cannot increase community understanding habitats. and support without research and monitoring results showing the conservation methods used are providing benefits to our natural resources and to the community; and ❚ we cannot make effective management decisions without information about the resources that we are trying to manage. Therefore, monitoring becomes our fourth major management tool.

Aims of biodiversity and ecosystem monitor- ing in the FCA 1 To develop an understanding of patterns in the CA’s physical environment and in the size,

Survey team about to dive in the Conservation Area

Training in open water SCUBA Diving Certificate with Foua Toloa 2 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 Sharing monitoring results with the community

Then there is the identification and counting of the time this year. Bi-monthly surveys entail approxi- indicator species.There is a lot of work involved in mating the numbers of the 15 sea bird species, learning to identify and count 76 species of indica- five shore bird species and two land bird species tor fish, 141 species of food fish, 149 mobile inver- to be found on the islets and documentation of tebrates such as crabs and sea cucumbers and 76 nesting and roosting behaviour. physical measures including corals, algae and sand/ After long delays in obtaining information, together gravel/rock. That is why we need a well trained ...we repeated our with time and staff constraints, we are now ready team to split up these tasks. Training or expert ad- survey design to begin monitoring the coconut crab populations vice is also required for survey design and analysis after 1.5 years. as well. Vegetation and insect biodiversity surveys of the data collected. We were pleas- have also been completed but not yet analysed due antly surprised to Using a GPS (geographic positioning system) to re- to delays in identification. identify all our survey sites, we repeated our survey Information from reef and bird surveys and counts see some very design after 1.5 years. We were pleasantly surprised of turtle sightings and nests is shared with the com- early signs of to see some very early signs of increasing munity via reports submitted, information seminars, increasing populations of some fast-growing indicator organ- radio programmes and the monthly newspaper up- isms within the Conservation Area while populations populations of date. Fact sheets on resource management con- of the same organisms outside the area declined or some fast-grow- cepts, life cycles and management needs of differ- remained the same. ing indicator ent species are also provided to the community. We hope that this information is assisting the com- organisms within Sea birds the Conservation munity to understand and care for their Conserva- Area while Local information about sea birds shows us that tion Area and their atoll’s natural resources. numbers of breeding birds have drastically declined The information gathered from regular monitoring populations of the over the last 30 years with some species no longer is also used to assist the Conservation Area Coor- same organisms breeding in the area. The ban on bird harvesting dinating Committee (CACC) to make management outside the area and disturbance within the CA aims to reverse this decisions that are based on the status of resource trend. Monitoring of our bird populations is neces- declined or populations. remained the sary to determine whether this objective is being met. So far, we are doing approximate counts every same. Aims of community surveying and awareness two months to identify when the major breeding sea- monitoring sons for the different species are. 1 To gather information about the community’s Dr Dick Watling from Environmental Consultants Fiji use and perceived importance of natural Ltd undertook the initial islet bird surveys and trained resources on Funafuti atoll. staff in identification and survey methods. A black noddy (lakia) nest census (nests per tree and occu- 2 To monitor the impact of our education and pied trees versus unoccupied trees) was performed awareness programmes on the community in on three islets inside and three islets outside the order to use this information in planning CA at the time, and will be repeated at the same ongoing and more relevant programmes in the future. 3 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 References We have adapted the pro-forma questionnaire pro- Profiting from natural resources vided by SPREP in our Project Preparation Docu- Environment Unit Ministry of ment (Environment Unit, 1995) to develop a com- Business skills that let commu- Natural Resources and munity survey/questionnaire that aims to give an- nities profit from their natural Environment, GOT. 1995. swers on the use and importance of natural re- resources while still preserving Funafuti Marine Conserva- sources and public awareness of the Conservation them was the focus of a ten- tion Area, Tuvalu, Project Area. day workshop held in Apia, Preparation Document, Samoa from 20 to 30 September. A total of 22 SPREP Apia. Our survey method included a sample of 100 house- community members and conservation Kaly, U.L., Alefaio, T.M., holds (approximately three per cent of the popula- workers attended the workshop. They came Ludescher, C.M., Talakatoa, tion) stratified according to the size of each com- from the 17 Conservation Areas that have K. and Alefaio, S. 1999. munity living on Funafuti. Some older people an- been established in 12 Pacific island coun- Second Marine Survey of swered questionnaires in interviews, while other tries by SPREP’s South Pacific Biodiversity Funafuti Conservation Area, people answered questionnaires by themselves. Conservation Programme. Numeric results and answers to closed questions Tuvalu. A report prepared Organised by SPREP the eco-enterprises work- are being entered onto a computer using a for the Funafuti Conserva- shop, in collaboration with Samoa’s Small Business STATISTICA package for statistical and graphical tion Area Project. The South Enterprise Centre placed a strong emphasis on analysis and answers to open-ended questions will Pacific Regional Environ- practical exercises and field trips. “These will give be analysed by tabular and visual comparison. ment Programme and the trainees the skills they need to help communities Government of Tuvalu. Information obtained regarding the use and impor- and small operators understand the concepts and Russ, G.R. and Alcala, A.C. tance of natural resources will be used in the devel- issues of conservation enterprises, and develop 1996. Do marine reserves opment of our Conservation Area Management Plan successful income-generating activities that are export adult fish biomass? and information regarding the success/failure of our based on their natural resources,” said Mr Martel, Evidence from Apo Island, education and awareness campaigns will be used SPREP’s Socio-economic Officer. Central Philippines. Marine to improve future programmes. He said that while participants were a blend of com- Ecology Progress Series, munity members, representatives of Conservation 132:1-9. Conclusion Area Coordinating Committees and Conservation Why monitor? Because we-the community, the re- Area Support Officers, they all shared a strong in- searchers and the managers-need to understand terest in setting up eco-enterprises that conserved how our Conservation Area is working for the ben- a community’s natural resources and at the same For further information efit of our biological diversity and for ensuring the time benefited the community. contact sustainable use of our natural resources. Participants spent four days in the field studying a range of eco-enterprises in Samoa, including a co- Claudia Ludescher or How do we monitor? We make sure we get advice conut oil production process that uses direct mi- Tataua Alefaio from literature and experts in the relevant field to cro-expelling techniques to obtain the oil; a coffee Funafuti Conservation Area ensure that the monitoring methods used answer and kava production operation; and eco-tourism en- Private Mail Bag, Funafuti, the questions being asked. Tuvalu terprises based on Samoa’s Taga blowholes, the In the future, our monitoring programmes (some of Falealupo forest canopy walkway and the Saleaula Tel: (688) 20489 which are just starting) will assist with the task of women’s project which offers tours of the lava field Fax: (688) 20664 managing the biodiversity and ecosystems of our ruins on the island of Savai’i. Conservation Area for the benefit of our community They then carefully analysed the strengths and Email: [email protected] and our descendants. weaknesses of each enterprise visited and devel- oped a full project proposal for the Sa’anapuÐ Sataoa Conservation Area. Their conclusions were presented to the communities running the various enterprises. The workshop looked at a series of case studies from participants’ own conservation areas, devel- oping detailed proposals and business plans. The plans were assessed by a specialist panel drawn from Samoa’s business community. Mr Martel said the workshop was part of a pro- gramme that aimed to make the region’s Conser- vation Areas self-sufficient after the SPBCP sup- port ends in 2001. “It is encouraging to see the extent of innovative ideas from participants, about ways they can develop business enterprises which have a low impact on the environment, benefit the Participants at the Conservation Enterprises and Income community and use precious resources in a sus- Generating Activities workshop tainable way,” Mr Martel said. 4 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 Conservation area summaries 3rd quarter JulyÐSeptember 1999

News from the South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP-supported) Conservation Areas (CAs).

Arnavon Marine CA them a talk on conservation other on the 1999 census of The Conservation Officer (Solomon Islands) and the CA concept. the Kakerori. They were attended a Tour Guide Trainers published in the Cook Islands The Arnavon Marine Conser- workshop in Sigatoka, Fiji in In September, members of the News on 9 and 16 October. vation Area is comprised of a August. He will be holding CA management committee group of islands and surround- training courses for potential attended a Biodiversity SPREP’s Avifauna Officer, ing reefs and waters. The CA tour guides next year. Conservation Network work- Greg Sherley, met with the lies in the Manning Straits of shop in Suva. This workshop CACC, lead agency (the the Solomon Islands, midway The Technical Adviser, Ed has motivated them to work Environment Service) and the between the islands of Santa Saul, is training Mataiti to be harder and to dedicate and Kakerori Recovery Pro- Isabel and Choiseul. It sup- well versed with all aspects of commit themselves to the gramme’s (KRP) technical ports a great diversity of the Kakerori Recovery Pro- development of their project. people, Ed Saul and Hugh marine resources, has a high gramme. Training has included Robertson. The meeting diversity of terrestrial fauna a population assessment, One of the project’s conserva- discussed the future of the and contains significant areas monitoring of nests and blood tion officers attended the KRP. of unspoiled reef. The group sampling of kakerori, and rat Conservation Enterprises and of islands is also an important control. Income Generating Activities The CASO and a CACC nesting site for the endangered workshop held in Apia, Samoa, member, Tukurangi Hosking, Hawksbill turtle. The islands One hundred and eighty-one 20 to 30 September. participated in the Resource are uninhabited but the (181) birds were counted in Management workshop held in Arnavon Marine Conservation this year’s annual kakerori Takitumu CA (Cook Islands) Nadi, Fiji in July. In September, Area Project works closely with census. This is an increase of the CASO and another three communities (Kia, The Takitumu Conservation 17 birds from last year’s figure. member of the CACC, Ben Posarae and Waghena) that Area ( TCA) is a 155-hectare Well done kakerori. Tamariki, attended a workshop have an interest in the area. inland forested area located on on Conservation Enterprises the south-eastern side of Koroyanitu CA (Fiji) and Income Generating Public awareness of the CA Rarotonga, the largest island Activities held in Apia, Samoa. The Koroyanitu CA is located has strengthened due to The in the Cook Islands. The three in the steep hills above Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) major landowning groups The Conservation Officer did Lautoka and Nadi in north- (the project partner) recruit- established the TCA in early an invasive plant survey. western Viti Levu. The ment of a Peace Corps 1996. The CA is the core Plans are underway to carry Koroyanitu Range is the last volunteer who is responsible breeding site of the endan- out further monitoring of remaining area of unlogged for education and awareness gered and unique local bird invasive plants early next year. tropical montaine rainforest of the project. Awareness called the Kakerori. Other and cloud forest in western Viti activities have been conducted unique flora and fauna are The TCA’s video entitled Enua Levu. It is the habitat of a large in the communities, and the also found. Manea has been established range of indigenous flora and Peace Corps has run a training on an Adventure Television fauna. The core CA is about programme for the project’s The CASO, Ian Karika Wilmott Internet site. This can be 3000 hectares and consists of conservation officers, on public gave presentations about the viewed on all land above 600 metres. speaking techniques and CA to Te Uki Ou and Avatea www.adventuretv.com. Also, a There are six main villages production of visual aid primary schools. Following the new website has been estab- located within the CA: Abaca, material. A lot of work has also presentations the schools paid lished to promote the TCA. Navilawa, Nalotawa, Vakabuli, been carried out with women’s a visit to the TCA with the This can be viewed on Nadele (Korobebe) and groups in the communities to project’s Conservation Officer, www.ck/conservation. Yaloku. help them to better understand Mataiti Mataiti. the concept of the Conserva- It has been a while since we The CASO assistant attended tion Area and the long-term The TCA project and the World have heard from this project. a SPREP-supported Media benefits involved. Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Great to hear from Koroyanitu. and Environment workshop jointly produced and broadcast held in Rarotonga from 13 to A group of high school stu- ongoing conservation radio Unaisi Tawake was appointed 17 September. The workshop dents from Choiseul Province programmes. the new CASO on 2 August was beneficial for her, as it has made an educational field trip following the resignation of helped in producing environ- to the CA in August. The The CASO assistant, Tungane Semi Lotawa in February. mental articles for the local Conservation Officers gave George, prepared two articles, media as well as the project’s one on the project’s “one stop Many of the CA project’s newsletter. environment shop” and the activities were put on hold due 5 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 to the absence of a CASO. Utwa-Walung CA (Kosrae, (PRA) workshop for the programme conducted by the However, the Koroyanitu Federated States of community in December. Tonga Tourism Project, funded communities have received Micronesia) by AusAID. continuous support from New B Ha’apai CA (Tonga) Zealand and Japanese funding The Utwa-Walung CA is Funafuti CA (Tuvalu) The entire Ha’apai group organisations. The New located on the south-western constitutes the Ha’apai Zealand Official Development coastline of the island of The Funafuti Conservation Conservation Area. The CA Assistance (NZODA), through Kosrae. It encompasses a Area covers the western covers an ocean area of Tourism Resource Consultants number of different habitats portion of the Funafuti atoll, approximately 10,000 square (TRC), assisted the communi- and ecosystems between the Tuvalu. The total area of 33 kilometres. The 62 islands of ties with ecotourism activities villages of Utwa and Walung. square kilometres includes six Ha’apai range in size from less by developing and upgrading The CA is the largest area in small islets (motu) covering 8 than 1 hectare to 46.6 square the Batilamu overnight trek Kosrae that contains the least hectares in total. The CA kilometres. The CA has an from Navilawa to Abaca. The disturbed areas of estuarine, includes a representative extensive system of coral Japan National Committee for mangrove and upland forest sample of Tuvaluan reefs. The “biodiversity” of Pacific Economic Cooperation habitats. The marine area is biodiversity, both terrestrial Ha’apai includes all terrestrial (JANCPEC) funded a toilet considered one of the most and marine, and some of the and marine ecosystems, all and shower building at Abaca, pristine on Kosrae. In the most productive fishing plant and animal species and which will ensure quality wetlands area there is a grounds on Funafuti. The area varieties found in these facilities for groups on day trips unique freshwater forest of ka contains the richest coral reef ecosystems, and the knowl- and overnight stays at Abaca. trees (Terminalia carolinensis), ecosystem found on Funafuti. edge, uses, beliefs and Over the past year Abaca which is the only remaining The project’s education and language that the people of Village has been working with stand in the world. awareness campaign is aimed Ha’apai have in relation to their Ronald Lucas from the at the entire Funafuti commu- ecosystems and species. Foundation for the Peoples of The CASO, Madison Nena, nity, as they are the resource the South Pacific International has been selected by users. A consultant, Janet Bathgate is (FSPI), New Zealand account- Seacology Foundation for its producing information panels ant Matthew Abel and Coop- Indigenous Conservation of Great news for the Funafuti and signs for the public and eratives Department to the Year award. Congratula- Conservation Area: The visitors to the CA. develop a simple, accurate tions Madison on being National Conservation Area record and bookkeeping selected. Act was approved on its last Mr William Burge, a Peace system. reading and it is now in force. A newsletter in Kosraean was Corps volunteer has joined the Congratulations TuÉ lu. In project. The CA project has a new produced and distributed to accordanp office, which is located at 3 the communities. The newslet- with the new Act, the project The project manager, Netatua Nede Steet, Lautoka town. ter provides up-to-date has prepared a report to the information on the CA and Prescott and the CASO, Sione Minister of Environment to Faka’osi attended the Commu- TRC and the Fiji Red Cross creates awareness on other request his approval to declare nity-based Resource Manage- carried out a first aid training aspects of the environment. the Funafuti Conservation Area ment Plan workshop from 19 course in Abaca for park staff. (FCA) a CA under this Act. Weekly radio programmes on to 30 July in Nadi, Fiji. An SPBCP-funded botanical the CA continue to be broad- The CASO, Tataua Alefaio, The project sponsored an survey of the CA was carried casted. and one of the Conservation essay competition for the St out in September by a team Officers attended a Commu- Joseph Community College led by Randy Thaman of USP. An overseas film crew was nity-based Resource Manage- during their English Week from At the end of the survey, three recruited to make a promo- ment workshop in Nadi, Fiji in 20 to 24 September. The Conservation Officers were tional video for the CA. The July. essay topics focused on taught how to do weed video will be ready for distribu- terrestrial and marine conser- assessments and vegetation tion in December. A workshop was held with the vation in Ha’apai. The CASO surveys. CACC and members of the Construction of the Visitor’s participated in the prize giving Kaupule on PLA (Participatory, and delivered the keynote The Mineral Resources Centre is almost complete. Learning and Action). This was address at the ceremony. Department has issued a (See news brief on this item). immediately followed by a prospecting license to discussion/consultation on the A representative from the MINCOR to prospect for gold A series of meetings was held CA evaluation for their Transi- project, Milika Paletu’a, in Navilawa part of the CA. with the key stakeholders of tion Strategy. the Tafunsak community to attended a NZODA/SPREP review and evaluate the Tour Guide Training workshop, The second Community project, and to discuss a from 15 to 20 August in Awareness Survey was carried proposed plan to hold a Sigatoka, Fiji. Milika is involved out in the third quarter. The Participatory Rural Appraisal in the tour-guiding training survey will measure the 6 CALL Newsletter Issue no 2 AprilÐJune 1999 effectiveness of their aware- Komarindi Catchment CA best of the very few surviving Nelson Timothy (landowner) ness programmes. Additional (Solomon Islands) populations of Ifilele (Intsia attended a tourism manage- questions will be added to bijuga), traditionally the most ment course organised by the provide information to assist The Komarindi Catchment highly valued timber tree in Tourism Council of the South with their Resource Manage- Conservation Area (KCCA) Samoa. Pacific (TCSP) in Port Vila. ment Plan. covers an approximate area of Timothy was recently elected 19,300 hectares located in the Dion Ale resigned from the as the new CACC Chairman. The project’s popular radio central highlands of the CASO position on 18 August. Congratulations Timothy. programme continues to go to western end of Guadalcanal Mr Ioane Etuale replaced Dion air every Thursday night, and Island, the largest in the and officially started work on As part of its Transition their monthly environmental Solomon Islands Group. The 31 August. A new staff Strategy, a review and evalua- column in Tuvalu’s only KCCA is the customary land of position was created for the tion of the CAP was done. newspaper, Tuvalu Echo, the Kakau and Lakuili Tribes of Conservation Area Project Nathaniel Lix de Wheya, continues. Guadalcanal. The tribes have (CAP), and filled from among CASO from Komarindi CAP, formed the Veraboli, the applicants for the CASO Solomon Islands helped The bi-monthly bird survey Kakabona, Konggulai and position. Mr Suiga Tuiavii was Charles Vatu, Vatthe’s CASO was carried out in August. This Kusumba communities, which appointed as Conservation with the review and evaluation. is part of a regular monitoring the project works closely with. Officer on 13 September. regime to determine population The area is representative of The Lugainville Women’s estimates of sea birds breed- the high biodiversity that Dr Trevor Ward presented the Centre conducted a one-week ing within the CA. characterises the rainforest results to the lead agency (O workshop for Matantas environment of the Solomon Le Siosiomanga Society women. The workshop The Biodiversity Officer, Islands. Incorporated) of the test focused on the rights of Claudia Ludescher, has indicators to determine the women, family planning and prepared a turtle-monitoring The recent unrest on success of the CA. Uafato is violence against women. The plan for the CA and Funafuti as Guadalcanal has hampered one of three CAs, Koroyanitu Centre and Vatthe Lodge a whole. It will be used to progress on the project. It has and Vatthe being the other jointly funded it. The partici- monitor the number of turtles prevented the CASO and the two, chosen to collect field pants found the workshop to and the importance of different CACC from meeting to discuss data to develop indicators to be extremely interesting. A areas for turtle breeding and and implement work plans. measure the success of the follow-up workshop is now other activities. CA projects. The CASO, Nathaniel Lix da planned for early next year for the men. The project manager attended Wheya spent four weeks Vatthe CA (Vanuatu) the Conservation Enterprises helping to review and evaluate The Department of Fisheries and Income Generating the Arnavon and Vatthe The forested Vatthe CA is held a half-day awareness Activities workshop for CAs Conservation Area projects. located at Big Bay on the workshop in Matantas. The supported by the South Pacific central north coast of the aim of the workshop was to Biodiversity Conservation The CASO attended the Island of Espiritu Santo. The help villagers to better under- Programme (SPBCP) held in Conservation Enterprises and area incorporates the lowland stand the importance of Apia, Samoa in September. Income Generating Activities plain forests extending from workshop held in Apia, Samoa the black sand beach of Big conserving marine resources. The project has received a lot in September. Bay, southwards to the top of a The CACC is gaining respect of praise and encouragement limestone escarpment and and recognition across all from community members Uafato CA (Samoa) plateau to reach a height of levels of the communities as regarding the changes they 402 metres, some 4 kilometres The Uafato CA is located on the management body of the have seen in the CA over the from the sea. The CA is the north-east corner of Upolu CAP. past three years. Public estimated to be about 3,470 along the rugged coastline support for the CA has in- hectares encompassing about region between Uafato and The Vatthe Lodge is progress- creased lately and this is 2,276 hectares of lowland Tiavae. The project works with ing well and the communities illustrated by the reduction of forest and includes the village Uafato village. The coastal- are experiencing direct reports on violating the CA of Matantas. forested CA is the only benefits from the business. It rules. remaining area of its size in Three awareness meetings on was announced at a CACC Samoa that is lightly inhabited, meeting that 560,000 vatu SPBCP note: Keep up the the SPBCP philosophy and the and is largely intact. The were paid directly to the two good work. community-based approach to dramatic landscape of sharp the project were held in this communities from January to peaks, rock walls, short steep- quarter. One meeting was held September 1999. Vatthe sided valleys and long knifed- in Sara village and another in Lodge has been able to edged ridges is unmatched Matantas, the third one was sustain its own operation since elsewhere in Samoa. This with the CACC. 1998 with a current bank asset coastal forest contains the of 600,000 vatu. 7 CALL Newsletter Issue no 2 AprilÐJune 1999 Vatthe Lodge management is continu- The Mangrove Crab project has Training in community-based natural ally improving under the leadership of commenced. Some transect plots were resource management planning Purity and Solomon. Community established in mangrove areas near A two-week training workshop complaints about the management of the Ngarmeskang River. Similar for 24 conservation officers the Lodge have reduced immensely. transects are expected to be estab- from 10 Pacific island coun- Community households take turns in lished in other areas of the NCA. The tries in Micronesia and Poly- small contract work with Vatthe Lodge. project aims to convey information nesia was held in Nadi, Fiji, about the habitats, population density, from 19 to 30 July. The participants worked The project coordinator, Russell Nari ecology, etc., of the mangrove crabs in with communities to help them manage their attended his last CACC meeting on 16 the NCA. The project will also help natural resources. and 17 September. Russell leaves communities in the NCA to better Vanuatu early next year for Australia to manage their areas to protect and pursue postgraduate studies (see conserve the crabs. It is hoped that the news brief). At his last CACC meeting, communities can eventually take over Russell mentioned that he was very this project. impressed with the increase in progress and community participation To stop poaching within the CA, the in the project. Russell’s last duty for Conservation Area Patrol Officer of the project is to assess a proposal by Ngatpang State conducted regular the government to establish a FREE patrol and monitoring with the help TRADE ZONE in the Big Bay area from a Peace Corps volunteer of under the Mondragon Project. Ngatpang.

Ngaremeduu CA (Palau) The CASO is seeking funding opportu- Participants consult with members of a Fijian village nities from other donors to assist them The training focused on methods, tools and proc- The community-based Ngaremeduu with their programmes. A proposal was esses of information gathering and analysis needed CA is located on the western coast of submitted to the Urban and Community when the owners of the resource and other Palau’s largest island, Babeldaob. The Forestry Council to support tree- stakeholders take a full part in putting together re- area is centred on Ngaremeduu Bay, planting and elderly-to-youth knowl- source management plans. but also incorporates a significant area edge exchange programmes. Another of lagoon and reef including the very proposal was submitted to the Environ- All the participants are directly or indirectly involved important Toachel Mlengui reef pass, ment Australia: Indigenous Protected in the management of conservation areas in a way as well as coastal mangroves and a Areas Funding seeking support for that allows resources to be used, but in a sustain- large part of the bay’s catchment area. other activities that the project wishes able manner so they are available for future gen- The CA is located within the bounda- to pursue. erations. ries of three states, namely Aimeliik, Sam Sesega, the Resource Management Pro- Ngatpang, and Ngaremlengui. The The CASO attended the first Palau gramme Officer with SPREP headed the team of following are some activities carried Automated Land and Resource facilitators and resource people involved in the out in the first and second quarters of Information System (PALARIS) work- workshop. Other members of the team consisted 1999. shop. The Bureau of Lands and of Ms Suliana Siwatibau of Island Consulting and Surveys hosted the workshop as a Mr Stephen Why of the Foundation for the Peo- The CASO, Alma Ridep-Morris kick-start for the establishment of the ples of the South Pacific International (FSPI). attended the Ramsar COP7 Confer- Geographical Information System ence in Costa Rica on behalf of the (GIS) network programme for Palau. “Traditional resource management that revolves Government of Palau as part of the The CASO was selected to be the around the ad hoc imposition of taboos needs to wetlands initiative in Palau. The contact person for the Bureau of be strengthened by adding to it the best attributes Ngaremeduu Conservation Area Natural Resources and Development of modern resource management approaches (NCA), being one of the biggest to coordinate the various divisions in based on good scientific knowledge of the re- protected wetland areas in Palau, preparation for the preliminary GIS sources,” Mr Sesega said. “Furthermore, the for- justified her presence at the meeting. needs and assessments programme. mulation of management plans for community- Efforts are being made to make owned resources should actively engage the com- Ngardok Lake a Ramsar site of Palau. munities. This will foster a collective sense of own- At the conference the CASO dis- ership of plans which is an essential element in cussed the potential of Ngaremeduu gaining communities’ commitment to implementa- CA becoming a Ramsar site. tion.”

An official draft of the NCA manage- The workshop was part of SPREP’s South Pacific ment plan has been compiled by the Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP). CASO as part of a requirement under the NCA legislation.

88 CALLCALL Newsletter Newsletter IssueIssue no no 3 3 July JulyÐÐSeptemberSeptember 1999 1999 Naturewalks into the Takitumu Conservation Area (TCA)

Ian Karika Wilmott CASO, Takitumu Conservation Area

The natural resource The TCA conducts its tours in activities to be developed locally. Titikaveka village on the south side we are currently using Tourist numbers to the Cook Islands have remained of Rarotonga, the main island of the for income generating around 50,000 for the last two to three years; an Cook Islands.Titikaveka is popular average of 1,000 per week. For the last 18 months is the pristine state of for tourist accommodation as the the TCA has concentrated on conducting two tours the forest and unique- whole of this village sports white sandy beaches per week with a maximum of 10 people per tour. ness of the kakerori. and a safe swimming lagoon. The TCA lies approxi- To have more than 10 makes it hard for tour guides The service is guiding mately 800 metres from the main coastal road and to communicate and impacts negatively on inter- tours into the CA for extends over 155 hectares (380 acres) of forested pretation areas. There is the potential to increase ridges and valleys. The area rises from about 50 nature lovers and numbers to 100 per week (5,000 per annum), 10 metres above sea level to about 270 metres and birdwatchers. We per cent of the total visitors to the islands. market this service as clouds often cover points above 200 metres. It is typical of inland Rarotonga-steep, dramatic topog- Nature-walks and Promotion and Marketing raphy characterised by upstanding pinnacles of Birdwatching tours. volcanic rock known as Tangaroa, and from certain Below are listed some of the marketing strategies vantage points there are spectacular views. that we are currently using to attract visitors to the CA. These figures are from the visitors’ surveys The project was established mainly to protect the from 26 March 1999 to 22 April 1999. endemic kakerori (Rarotonga flycatcher) along with many other unique plants and animals found there. No of visitors This area is the core breeding site of this endan- that had found out about the gered land bird, and since 1989 the Kakerori Re- Marketing TCA tours through the covery Programme has brought the population back activities marketing tools listed from 29 birds to the current 181. The natural resource we are currently using for in- Brochure 35 come generating is the pristine state of the forest Signboard 3 and uniqueness of the kakerori. The service is guid- Jason’s map 5 ing tours into the CA for nature lovers and Jason’s book 4 birdwatchers. We market this service as Nature- walks and Birdwatching tours. Web page 1 Agencies 9 To find a means of earning an income without sig- nificantly altering the fauna and flora of the CA cre- Word of mouth 2 ated a challenge for the CACC. Eco-tours were an obvious choice for the TCA as there is already a Other marketing strategies include hoteliers’ and well-established tourism industry in the Cook Is- agents’ complimentary tours, a monthly radio show lands. There was also a demand for more tourist and TV sponsorship, newsletters and an advertise- ment in a British birdwatcher’s magazine. Further proposed marketing activities include: ❚ setting up a web page on a more accessible site; ❚ promoting birdwatching tours to TCA and other local islands; ❚ conducting complimentary tours for hotel receptionists more regularly; ❚ publishing an article in an alternative tourist newspaper; and ❚ publishing a TCA video on the internet. The TCA endorses the idea of setting up a regional tourist network with other CAs. Marketing costs could be shared with those involved.

Competition Locally carved TCA sign welcoming visitors to the area There are two other inland tour operators on

9 CALL Newsletter Rarotonga, one of which conducts treks across Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 the island and occasionally, gentle forest walks. The The TCA in formulating its Management Guide- other uses 4WD vehicles. Both operations affect the lines, set out the distribution of profits as follows: TCA’s tours as anyone wanting to see the interior of Rarotonga has a choice of the three. From our observations the 4WD operators seem to be get- Distribution of profits ting the lion’s share of the market. Projected figures based on 1040 visitors per annum The TCA seems to be at present a niche market for NZ$ nature and bird enthusiasts and more aggressive Land rental 35% 4,440.80 marketing is necessary. There has been discussion among the members of the CACC of the possibility Kakerori Recov. Prog. 20% 2,537.60 of also operating our own 4WD tours. A feasibility CA Development 20% 2,537.60 study will be conducted before a decision is made. There are still plans to enhance the TCA eco-tours Administration 15% 1,903.20 by adding other attractions to the tour such as rare Stock 10% 1,268.80 and native species of plants that are already in the CA. Total 12,688.00 Commissions of 15 per cent for one to nine pas- sengers and 20 per cent for groups of 10 or more The CACC will need to revise these distribution are given to agencies that sell our tours. percentages to enable wages for an administra- There are no legal requirements at present for the tor, a conservation officer and casual workers. TCA to operate until turnover reaches NZ$30,000 Other income generating activities or more at which time Value Added Tax (VAT) will apply. At present the TCA has a small office close to the business centre of Rarotonga, which the project Social and community involvement uses also as a “one stop environment shop” sell- The following lists the breakdown costs of our ing products such as T-shirts, posters, calendars, Naturewalks tours. books, greeting cards, videos and cloth bags. The TCA shop/office will be moving into larger premises on the main road in October 1999. This Breakdown costs of should increase visitors to the Environment Shop. Naturewalks NZ$ Gross income 35.00 Sales figures for 1 Jan-17 May 1999 Taxi service 5.00 Lunch 3.00 Costs of Cost of goods Purified water 0.50 items sold & services

Tour guide 4.00 NZ$ NZ$ Advertising 2.00 Agents commission 15% 5.25 Apparel 375.00 252.00 Total Cost 19.75 Calendars 12.00 10.00 Taxable income 15.25 Eco-tours 5294.50 2156.00 Tax @ 20% 3.05 Environ books 232.00 174.00 Net income per visitor 12.20 Posters and books 817.40 547.94 Greeting cards 20.00 11.00

For 1,040 projected visitors per annum the total CI Birds books 196.00 130.00 net income is NZ$12,688 KRP donations 387.00 0.00 Laminating 9.00 9.00 Video 70.00 45.00 Total 7427.90 3334.94

Costs of MINUS costs of goods = 4092.96 items sold and services 10 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 Conclusion limited by the ability of the CA to handle the num- bers required. Unfortunately we cannot determine For the last 20 months the TCA has put a lot of ef- this until we achieve the desired numbers. In our fort into developing its eco-tourism venture. The opinion, as we strive to reach a desired level or study shows that there is more work needed to make target, we have to continuously monitor the CA for the venture viable. Firstly, the product needs to be any detrimental effects on its environment. An out- enhanced to make it an activity that more visitors to side observer may be required to periodically moni- the Cook Islands would wish to experience. Sec- tor the CA, as our quest for the dollar may make us ondly, there is still a lot more that can be done in the oblivious to the damage we are doing to our for- field of marketing. Figures show that there is a sub- ests. stantial market that can be tapped, but this may be

The Kakerori Story

Dr Hugh Robertson Coordinator Kiwi Recovery Programme, NZ Department of Conservation First published in Wingspan, the membership magazine of Birds Australia

In 1989, the kakerori was amongst the 10 rarest birds in the world, with just 29 individuals surviving on the island of Rarotonga. Thanks to one of the most suc- Kakerori were cessful bird conservation programmes ever undertaken, numbers have rebounded abundant on and kakerori is no longer regarded as “critically endangered”. Rarotonga until at The kakerori, or Rarotonga flycatcher (Pomarea ged foothills.In 1984, Rod Hay and Gerald least the mid- dimidiata), is a 22-gram forest bird endemic to McCormack colour-banded eight birds, and then 1800s, however, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Pomarea flycatch- Rod Hay and I counted 38 birds in September 1987. the arrival of ship ers, closely related to the monarchs of tropical Nest observations over the next two years showed rats (Rattus Queensland, are scattered through eastern Poly- that an alarming 80 per cent of nests failed, mainly nesia, and all five species are threatened with ex- because of predation by ship rats, and a feral cat rattus) spelt tinction. Kakerori start life bright orange, then at three killed at least one adult kakerori. doom to them, as years old they become mottled orange and grey, By 1989, there were 29 birds left, including just 13 it did for many and from four years old they are grey. females. Unless something was urgently done, birds that had Kakerori were abundant on Rarotonga until at least mathematical models gave a 50 per cent chance evolved in the the mid-1800s, however, the arrival of ship rats (Rat- that they really would be extinct by 1998. Ed Saul absence of mam- tus rattus) spelt doom to them, as it did for many joined the team in 1989, and we started an inten- malian predators birds that had evolved in the absence of mamma- sive experimental management programme. With on oceanic is- lian predators on oceanic islands. A handful of birds funding from the Pacific Development and Conser- lands. were collected around 1900, but then kakerori were vation Fund; the South Pacific Regional Environ- thought to have gone down the path of no return ment Programme (SPREP); and the Ornithologi- like the dodo and moa. cal Society of New Zealand, we worked closely with the fledgling Cook Islands Conservation Service In 1973, a few birds were rediscovered in the rug- The endangered Kakerori to control rats over an increasingly large part of the 155- hectare range of the birds. The aim of the rat control programme is to reduce rat numbers before the first kakerori nests appear in mid-October, and then to keep rat numbers low until Christmas, when kakerori breeding is tailing off. Consequently, from late September to Decem- ber, Talon WB50 (an anticoagulant rodenticide) baits are placed in bait stations (40 centimetre sec- tions of plastic drainpipe) laid out along ridges and on twisting tracks following the contours within the valleys where most kakerori nest. A small team of (increasingly fit!!) conservation workers and volun- teers replenish the baits weekly. Feral cats are killed incidentally when they eat poisoned rats. Where possible, nests are given extra protection from rats by nailing a band of aluminium around the tree trunk. The success of the rat control programme is as- sessed by recording the decline of bait-take as the 11 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 weeks pass, the nesting success of kakerori and, The TCA hosts all five species of land bird native ultimately, the number of yearlings and the total to Rarotonga, most of the sea birds (tropic birds, population at the annual census in August. This terns and noddies), numerous lizards, a flying fox rollcall of birds is possible because two-thirds of colony, and many native plants, including several them have been colour-banded. rare orchids and mistletoes. Tracks in one of the valleys cater for eco-tourists of varying levels of In response to the programme, the kakerori popu- fitness, and an Interpretation Centre is nearly com- lation has grown six-fold, from the 29 birds in 1989 plete. Year-round, tourists are assured of seeing to a minimum of 180 birds in 1999. This has been kakerori during their half-day guided tour for NZ$35 due to increases in both nesting success (from 20 (A$30) per person (contact TCA at PO Box 3036, per cent to 67 per cent) and annual survival of adults Rarotonga, Cook Islands; phone (00682) 29906, (from 76 per cent to 93 per cent). kakerori are among or email: [email protected]). the longest lived wild birds for their size; in Septem- ber 1999, three of the eight birds colour-banded as The Kakerori Recovery Programme is now a model adults in 1984 were at least 18 years 10 months for other conservation work in the South Pacific re- old, and five others were at least 15 years 10 months gion. The technologies developed during the old. Kakerori Recovery Programme are being applied elsewhere to try to conserve other birds, especially Since 1996, the management of the Kakerori Re- its critically endangered cousin, the Tahiti flycatcher covery Programme has passed from the Cook Is- (Pomarea nigra). lands Conservation Service to the three families who own the 155 hectares of forest occupied by the Efforts are being directed to determine the feasibil- kakerori. These landowners are developing an eco- ity of shifting some kakerori to an island in the south- tourism business, and at the same time conserving ern Cooks which is free of ship rats: this is simply the biodiversity of the area, as part of the South an insurance policy, so that Rarotonga can be re- Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme im- stocked if disaster (cyclone, fire, new predators or plemented by SPREP. Anna Tiraa, a stalwart of the disease) strikes. rat poisoning campaign and nest monitoring, was The kakerori has gone from an obscure forest bird instrumental in establishing the Takitumu Conser- to an emblem of Rarotonga that many local resi- vation Area (TCA) Project, and Ed Saul has re- dents are proud of. The establishment of a suc- mained the backbone of the recovery programme cessful eco-tourism business by the land-owning as the technical advisor to the TCA. families shows that conservation and economic de- velopment can work hand in hand.

A visit to the Vatthe Conservation Area, Santo, Vanuatu

Joe Reti SPBCP Programme Manager

In August, the SPBCP programme manager, Joe Reti, represented SPREP at the ...Vatthe, like second Global Strategy Meeting on the World Heritage Convention for the Pacific Islands held in Port Vila, Vanuatu. While there he took time out to visit the Vatthe many other small Conservation Area. In an effort to be self-sustaining when SPBCP funding ceases, eco-tourism small-scale tourist accommodation (Vatthe Lodges) has been established within projects in the Conservation Area. The following is an excerpt of Joe’s travel report to the Vatthe Conserva- Vanuatu faces tion Area (VCA). some very difficult Sunday social and eco- Office’s web page. The VIBA can design a sepa- nomic constraints I travelled with Charles Vatu (CASO, VCA) and rate web page for Vatthe at no cost. Nathaniel Lix DeWheya (CASO to Komarindi Con- The association also conducts training courses and including poor servation Area, Solomon Islands) to Vatthe for an awareness-raising for its members. Vatthe has ben- infrastructure (the interview with Max Herman of the Vanuatu Islands efited from VIBA training in bookkeeping, tour guid- access road was Bungalow Association (VIBA). ing, project management and cooking. in a very poor The VIBA establishes minimum standards for bun- Max believes that Vatthe, like many other small eco- state as a result galows for overseas promotion. Vatthe Lodges is a tourism projects in Vanuatu faces some very diffi- of continuous member and therefore benefits from advertising by cult social and economic constraints including poor VIBA through published leaflets, promotional mate- rain) and lack of infrastructure (the access road was in a very poor rials and trade fairs. A short article on Vatthe CA is support from the state as a result of continuous rain) and lack of in the Vanuatu Air in-flight magazine. A large sign community. support from the community. To successfully pro- advertising the CA is at the Lugainville airport on mote the project, a number of things need to hap- Santo, and Vatthe is now on the National Tourism pen. They include: 12 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 ❚ raising the value of the project (road, facilities more time working with Charles, especially in the and current tours need to improve); preparation of reports to SPREP. She also asked ❚ finding specialised groups (nature lovers, for some computer training so she could prepare birdwatchers etc.); these reports when required. ❚ training tour guides not only in the biological Charles also recognises that the time to hand over aspects but also in the cultural and historical responsibility to the community is drawing close aspects of the area; and he is committed to helping Purity as much as ❚ identifying cultural/spiritual sites within the CA he can and to making sure that the necessary skills (these will increase the value of the CA are passed on to her before he leaves. He is also immensely and will attract people to the site); committed to completing a management plan for and Vatthe. ❚ reviving traditional stories (these should be part The chiefs from Sara village came down to of the tours and should be told by local people Matantas village on Monday morning to be inter- who are familiar with such stories). viewed by the two CASOs and to meet with Max The VIBA is considering an attachment scheme and myself on the future of the project. Max reaf- where staff of small bungalow accommodation may firmed VIBA’s commitment to helping and I ex- be attached to another for a few weeks to learn from plained SPBCP plans for the next two years. The each other’s experiences. There is also the possi- chiefs from the two villages expressed their appre- bility of staff from small bungalows like Vatthe to be ciation for the support to the project and identified attached to a larger hotel in Vila or Lugainville to be their priority needs for SPBCP funding as follows: trained by actually working in a more established 1 support for a wood carver to be trained in Port enterprise. Vila; Late in the afternoon, Charles and I took a walk 2 more overseas promotion for the project; through the CA. The forest has recovered very well 3 another study tour by landowners to another from the cyclones. We saw a lot more bird life than CA; and I have ever seen in the CA in the past. Megapodes 4 construction of larger water tanks for the and white flying foxes, which were a rare sight in bungalows. the past, were evident and we heard the call of the A kava-drinking ceremony followed and the chiefs Pacific pigeon throughout the forest. enjoyed the food and entertainment provided by The walking tracks were well maintained, although the Lodge before leaving. directional signs need to be installed, especially since there are a lot more tracks now than in the Tuesday past. We left at about 7.30 a.m. with the two CASOs for a workshop at Sara village. This workshop was part Monday of an evaluation process of the project that had Discussions were held with Purity and Chief Solo- started earlier in the week in Matantas. mon (her husband) who run the Lodge. Both have Twenty-seven village people attended the work- done an excellent job looking after the project and shop, a mixture of chiefs, young men, women and in providing the services required by tourists despite children. The Komarindi CASO facilitated the work- the constraints they constantly face. The quality of shop and explained the reason for the evaluation the food at the restaurant was good and all the tour- that was underway. People went into small work- ists that we shared the meals with commented fa- ing groups to identify firstly what made the project vourably on the cooking. work, what constraints prevented the achievement Purity is well placed to take over the CASO role of certain objectives and what actions were needed from Charles Vatu although she would like to have to overcome these constraints. At the end of the workshop, the constraints by consensus were: CASOs Charles Vatu (nearest ❚ lack of training in managing tourists and in to the table) and Nathaniel Lix project management; da Wheya about to have a meal ❚ lack of funding; and at the Vatthe Lodge restaurant ❚ poor infrastructure. The chief of Sara (Chief Lus) again pledged his people’s continuing support for the project and re- quested that SPREP continue to assist them when- ever it could. The workshop concluded at about 3.00 p.m. in time to return to Lugainville to catch my flight back to 13 CALL Newsletter Port Vila. Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 A network of small, community-owned Village Fish Reserves in Samoa

Jennifer Kallie Fisheries Extension Adviser, Fisheries Division, Apia, Samoa

The decline in inshore catches of fish and shellfish in Samoa, due to human activities, overexploitation, destructive fishing methods and the aftermath of two recent major cyclones, has greatly reduced the availability of marine protein resources, causing concern for the nutritional status of coastal village communi- ties. Since government actions and national laws to protect fish stocks have not previously proven successful, a culturally appropriate extension process has been used to encourage and motivate village communities to manage their own marine resources.

172o W Satoalepai Fagasa A network of Auala Fagamalo individual, highly Falealupo Saleaula 10 km protected Pu’apu’a Marine Protection Asaga SAVAII Nofoali’i SAMOA Areas often with Satapuala Tauao’o small separating Vaisa’ulu Moamoa distances, may Fasito’outa maximise linking Faleu uta Tuana’i of larval sources Vaito’amuli Faleapuna Fa’a’ala APIA and suitable set- Faleu Sale’a’umua Lepuiai Mutiatele tlement areas, UPOLU Pue Salua Salua-uta Apai Satitoa and provide the Matafa’a Ulutogia 14o S means by which Gagaifo Safa’ato’a Fusi adjacent fishing Saanapu Fausaga Tafitoala Poutasi areas are eventu- Mulivai ally replenished with marine spe- cies through re- production and Extension programme waters, and establishing fish reserves in parts of traditional fishing areas. larval migration. The staged induction of villages into the extension programme was initially facilitated by the AusAID Reciprocally, to support community undertakings, Fisheries Extension and Training Project (FETP) and the FD has undertaken to provide various forms of is currently supported by the AusAID Fisheries assistance and technical training. For example, to Project and the Fisheries Division (FD). The pro- relieve inshore fishing pressure, villagers have been gramme has been in operation from early 1996. Vil- assisted to purchase small aluminium boats for lages take an average of 11 weeks to develop man- outer reef slope fishing; tilapia (Oreochromis agement plans. This time span ensures that all niloticus) have been introduced to villages having groups in the community have ample opportunities suitable natural lakes or ponds; and giant clams to discuss implications and for ownership to evolve. (Tridacna derasa) have been provided to restock Some village management plans have been in op- lagoon fish reserves. In addition, regular demand- eration for over 36 months. based technical training workshops in tilapia and clam aquaculture, fishing methods, gear technol- Management actions ogy, sea safety, fish handling and skills for small business management have been held. The Fish- Village management actions have included the ban- eries Division has also undertaken to review all ning of chemicals, explosives and plant-derived fish management plans after approximately six months poisons (ava niukini), banning the smashing of cor- of operation and then at appropriate intervals, to als (fa’amo’a and tuiga) to catch fish, enforcing na- verify sustainability. tional laws on fish size regulations, controlling the use of nets and underwater torches for fishing at Currently, 61 villages are managing their own in- night, collecting and removing crown-of-thorns star- shore fisheries in Samoa. It is noteworthy that 56 fish (Acanthaster planci), banning the removal of out of the 61 villages have chosen to establish fish beach sand and the dumping of rubbish in lagoon reserves ranging in size from 5,000 to 1,500,000 14 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 square metres. These reserves, in which all fishing some villages in Samoa initially elected to ban fish- is banned, create the opportunity to establish a chain ing in their entire lagoon area, extension staff were of fish refuges around the entire country. Such a often obliged to curb over-enthusiasm, and to ask network of individual, highly protected Marine Pro- the community to reconsider the social effects of tection Areas often with small separating distances, such large reserves. Moreover, larger Village Fish may maximise linking of larval sources and suitable Reserves can also force members of that village settlement areas, and provide the means by which to fish in the waters of neighbouring villages, thus adjacent fishing areas are eventually replenished increasing the potential for inter-village conflict. with marine species through reproduction and lar- In terms of total fisheries production, a small Fish val migration. Reserve is unlikely to be as effective as a large A village establishing its own Village Fish Reserve one. Larger reserves are more likely to provide must have either traditional, de facto or legal con- suitable breeding areas for small inshore pelagic trol over its adjacent waters to allow community fish such as mullets and scads. However, small re- management. In Samoa, villages have de facto con- serves are beneficial for non-migratory species and trol of adjacent fishing areas, and also have the it is possible that the combined larval production ability to devise fisheries by-laws which, after gov- from many small reserves may exceed that from a ernment approval, become enforceable under na- smaller number of large reserves. It is also possi- tional law. Fifty-three of the 61 villages in the pro- ble that a chain of small reserves, with small dis- gramme have posted by-laws to support their fish- tances separating them, maximises the chances eries regulation actions. of linking larval sources and suitable settlement areas. However, as the interconnections between Benefits sources and settlement areas are poorly under- stood, this remains a hypothesis, which is not easy Community-owned Fish Reserves may be dis- to test. cussed in terms of expected benefits to both vil- lages and government. From a community view- Scientific Input point, the expectation is that, by declaring part of its fishing area as a Village Fish Reserve, fish catches Scientific input has included providing advice on in adjacent areas will eventually improve. Although the placement of reserves, monitoring biological government fisheries authorities may share this changes within the reserves, and collecting data expectation, there are additional public benefits re- on fish catches in adjacent areas. A side benefit of lating to management, compliance and sus- fisheries staff working closely with fishing commu- tainability. nities is that the collection of scientific data on sub- sistence fisheries is greatly facilitated by commu- As the Samoan Village Fish Reserves are being nity involvement. A large amount of information, and Results in managed by communities with a direct interest in even estimates of sustainable yield by area, may Samoa confirm their success, compliance with bans on fishing is be gained from such extensive surveys on subsist- that regardless of high and the usual enforcement costs associated ence fisheries. legislation or with national reserves do not apply. Most villages with Village Fish Reserves have actively enforced enforcement, the Summary responsible their own rules, and have often applied severe pen- alties for infringements. People breaking village rules In summary, Samoa has 56 established Village Fish management of by fishing in reserves have had traditional fines of Reserves, which are being managed by communi- marine resources pigs or canned goods imposed on them by the vil- ties with a direct interest in their continuation and will be achieved lage council. Community enthusiasm and commit- success. Although by social necessity many of the only when fishing ment suggests that the prospects for continuity of community-owned Fish Reserves are smaller than communities the Village Fish Reserves are high. biologically optimal, their large number with small separating distances creates the opportunity to Although there are biological production advantages themselves see establish a network of fish refuges around the en- of a Fish Reserve with a large area, in practice this it as their tire country. The Samoan model appears to be has had to be balanced against the sociological dis- responsibility. applicable to other countries in which fishing com- advantages of banning fishing in a large proportion munities have some degree of control over their of a village’s fishing area. As most village fishing adjacent waters. Results in Samoa confirm that areas in Samoa are relatively small, the declaration regardless of legislation or enforcement, the re- of a reserve in village waters usually denies some sponsible management of marine resources will be members of the community access to a relatively achieved only when fishing communities them- large part of their traditional fishing area. For exam- selves see it as their responsibility. If community ple, although young men are still able to go fishing actions include the declaration of Village Fish Re- beyond the reef, women (who traditionally collect serves, there is the additional advantage that even echinoderms and molluscs in subtidal areas) and small reserves may contribute to fisheries and the elderly are particularly disadvantaged in losing biodiversity conservation. access to shallow-water fishing areas. Thus, while 15 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 NEWS BRIEF ❚ NEWS BRIEF ❚ NEWS BRIEF ❚ NEWS BRIEF ❚ NEWS BRIEF

Construction starts on UtwaÐWalung Centre Construction of this impressive building com- menced in June and is expected to be finished in December. The CASO for the UtwaÐWalung CA, Madison Nena said that the building is based on a traditional Kosraean house, and that the last time a building of this type was built to live in was over 100 years ago. There has recently been a revival of this type of building in Kosrae mainly for tour- ism-related activities. There are two other build- ings on Kosrae built in this traditional style, the Kosrae Tourism Office and the Kosrae Village Re- sort’s Innum Restaurant. So far, no name has been given to the building. It will house a shop to sell locally made handicraft, display and demonstrate Construction well under way on the UtwaÐWalung The South Pacific locally prepared food and display educational in- Centre Biodiversity formation on the CA; and the project’s office, which Conservation will also coordinate all eco-tourism activities into Programme (SPBCP) the CA. provides support to Pacific island countries to develop and man- CA networking age “Conservation Areas”. A Conservation The “boundaries” of the Takitumu Conser- Area is an area of vation Area, Rarotonga and Rock Islands national or regional CA, Palau were “extended” in August with conservation signifi- the recent wedding of Tukurangi Hosking, cance that the local a member of the Takitumu CACC and community has de- Charlene Mersai, CASO for Rock Islands. cided to manage for The pair had a double wedding ceremony, conservation and with the first being held in Rarotonga and sustainable use. The another in Palau. The pair met while at- programme currently tending an SPBCP workshop. Members of supports 17 projects in the Rarotongan wedding party included 12 countries, ranging Takitumu’s CASO, Ian Karika Wilmott and from Palau in the north Ngaremeddu’s (Palau) CASO, Alma to the Cook Islands in Ridep-Morris. Members of the wedding party LÐR , Sally Hosking the east. SPBCP special note: Our sincere con- (mother of groom), Tukurangi Hosking, Ian Karika gratulations and best wishes go to the pair. Wilmott, Alma Ridep-Morris and Tukurangi Hosking Snr CALL is the newsletter of (father of groom) SPREP’S South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme, based in Apia, Samoa. Overseas study for Project Coordinator of Vatthe CA Editor Common Acronyms Russell Nari, Project Coordinator of the Vatthe CA SPREP’s Publication Unit CA Conservation Area has been awarded a scholarship to study for two Technical editor years at the Australian National University in Can- CALL Conservation Area Live Link Anna Tiraa berra, Australia commencing in March 2000. He CACC Conservation Area Coordinating Layout and graphics will do a Masters Degree in Environmental Science. Committee Catherine Appleton Russell was instrumental in initiating the Vatthe CA, CAP Conservation Area Project and the project will certainly miss his input. We wish CASO Conservation Area Support Officer SPREP you all the best and good luck with your studies SPBCP South Pacific Biodiversity Conser- PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa Russell. Phone (685) 21929 vation Programme Fax (685) 20231 SPREP South Pacific Regional Environ- Email [email protected] ment Programme

16 CALL Newsletter Issue no 3 JulyÐSeptember 1999 From the Manager’s Desk

Joe Reti SPBCP Programme Manager

Greetings to the traditional readers of CALL and to new partners who have re- cently joined us through the Pacific Conservation Area Network. I hope you con- tinue to find the newsletter informative and entertaining. At some point, this col- umn may need to be retitled “From the Editor’s Desk” to further illustrate the fact that this is no longer just a newsletter for people and projects under the SPBCP. It would be really nice if there were a few more articles and news from non-SPBCP projects so as to achieve a better balance of news and articles in future issues.

On the SPBCP front, the key highlights for this quar- the Pacific Conservation Trust Fund (27 and 28 ter were two regional workshops, one on Commu- October), a development I am sure all of you are nity Resource Management and the other on Small keeping a close watch on. The Sixth Multipartite Business Enterprise and Income Generation. The Review of the SPBCP will be the climax of this week former involved CASOs, project managers and com- of meetings (on 29 October). The week 1–5 No- munity representatives from CAs in Polynesia and vember will be the Fourth Roundtable on the Ac- Micronesia while the latter included managers of tion Strategy for Nature Conservation where Sam small business enterprises that are dependent on Sesega, Programme Officer (Resource Manage- the CAs. Feedback from the participants suggests ment) and I are expected to attend. that the workshops were highly successful in achiev- As we prepare for the end of SPBCP support to ing their objectives of increasing the capacity and your CAs, I would like to once again urge you not skills of local communities to manage the resources to miss a great opportunity to integrate your CA of the CAs in a sustainable manner. Reports of these work with the rest of the conservation efforts oc- workshops will be distributed to members of the curring in your countries. The preparation of Na- Network when completed. tional Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs) News flash In an earlier edition, I indicated that discussions are provides an excellent opportunity for projects such continuing with the University of the South Pacific as yours to be fully integrated with government and (USP) and the International Center for Protected other conservation programmes in your countries. Warmest Landscapes (ICPL) with regards to the establish- The Secretariat has helped draw the attention of congratulations are ment of a Protected Area Training Programme at the NBSAP coordinators from the Pacific to the in order to USP for protected area practitioners from the Pa- wealth of experience and lessons available from Ngaremeduu’s cific. These discussions were again held in Septem- the SPBCP and the CAPs. However, it is really up CASO, Alma Ridep- ber and if everything goes according to plan, we to you to ensure that projects such as yours are Morris and Nathan could see the first batch of trainees under the Pro- given appropriate consideration in the development Morris on the birth of gramme at USP in the second semester of next year. and implementation of these national plans and their baby boy on 9 I will of course, keep you posted of developments strategies. If you wish to know the name of the November. Their in this area. NBSAP in your country, let us know and we will provide you with this information. baby’s name is Graig Well, it is good to see that a number of CAs have De Andre Olkeriil already started to prepare for the end of the SPBCP Remember the SPBCP award for the most progres- Ridep-Morris. era. Community consultations – an important part sive CA? Well, its getting close to decision time. of the CA evaluation process – are underway for Your reports for the third and fourth quarter of 1999 some of the projects, and for other CAs, transition will be the basis for assessing progress for your strategies are being drafted with the view to have individual projects this year, so make sure your fi- them adopted before the beginning of the next year. nal reports for 1999 are submitted as soon as pos- I was fortunate to be in Vatthe when Nathaniel sible early next year. I expect to announce the in- (CASO from Komarindi) and Charles were carrying augural winner of the award in March 2000, so don’t out consultations with the Matantas and Sara vil- be disappointed by not sending us those reports. lages. Seeing these two CASOs in action gave me Finally, if we are lucky, this issue will reach you enormous confidence in the ability of the family of before Christmas. However, I very much doubt that CASOs to take conservation beyond SPBCP. It was this will be the case. In any case, Merry Christmas great to see the confidence and commitment of and Happy New Year to all readers of this exciting these two people to the task at hand. The support newsletter. I hope our partnership, developed from the communities themselves was very gratify- through the Pacific Conservation Area Network will ing. Malo Charles and Nathaniel. gain greater strength and purpose in the new mil- The next three months will be a busy time for us at lennium and look forward to continuing working with SPBCP. Firstly, there is the Seventh Meeting of the you in the coming years. Technical and Management Advisory Group 1 CALL Newsletter (TMAG) to organise on 25 and 26 October. This will Joe Reti, Issue no 3 July–September 1999 be followed by the Regional Training Workshop on Programme Manager, SPBCP