United Nations Development Programme Project title: Building Capacities to Address Invasive Alien Species to Enhance the Chances of Long-term Survival of Terrestrial Endemic and Threatened Species on Taveuni Island, Surrounding Islets and Throughout Fiji Country: Fiji Implementing Partner: Biosecurity Management Arrangements: Authority of Fiji (Ministry of Economy, National Implementation Modality Public Enterprises, Public Services and (NIM) Communication) UNDAF/Country Program Outcome: UNDAF for the Pacific Sub-region 2013-2017 UNDAF Outcome Area 1: Environmental management, climate change and disaster risk management UNDAF Outcome 1.1: Improved Resilience of PICTs, with a particular focus on communities, through integrated implementation of sustainable environmental management, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk management UNDP Strategic Plan Output: UNDP Strategic Plan Environment and Sustainable Development Primary Outcome 2: Output 2.5. Legal and regulatory frameworks, policies and institutions enabled to ensure the conservation, sustainable use, access and benefit sharing of natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, in line with international conventions and national legislation UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Category: UNDP Gender Marker: 2 Moderate Atlas Project ID/Award ID number: 00084576 Atlas Output ID/Project ID number: 00092525 UNDP-GEF PIMS ID number: 5589 GEF ID number: 9095 Planned start date: July 2017 Planned end date: June 2022 LPAC date: March 2017 Brief project description: Invasive alien species (IAS) are the greatest threat to biodiversity in the Pacific Islands. Numerous IAS have been introduced to Fiji, with significant impacts on natural landscapes and biodiversity. The recent introduction of Giant Invasive Iguana – GII (Iguana iguana) – to Fiji represents the first established population of this species in the Pacific and is a potential bridgehead to some of the world’s most isolated island ecosystems. GII have already caused harm throughout the Caribbean where they are spreading fast and have significant detrimental effects, including on native biodiversity, agriculture and tourism. Although there are several national and local-level initiatives to address IAS in Fiji, these efforts, lack adequate capacity and an overall comprehensive strategy to ensure a systematic and effective protection of biodiversity-rich and important areas. An effective, systematic and comprehensive eradication effort against GII, before populations grow beyond the point where they can be controlled is currently lacking and urgently needed. The preferred solution requires a suite of preventative measures to reduce IAS incursion and establishment, that will be introduced by this project, including: (i) Strengthened IAS policy, institutions and coordination at the national level to reduce the risk of IAS entering Fiji, including a comprehensive multi-sectorial coordination 1 | P a g e mechanism to ensure the best possible use of resources and capacities for prevention, management, eradication, awareness and restoration, and capacity building of biosecurity staff; (ii) Improved IAS prevention and surveillance operations at the island level on Taveuni, Qamea, Matagi and Laucala to reduce potential for pest species to enter and establish within the four-island group and move between these islands; (iii) Implementation of a comprehensive eradication plan for GII based on comprehensive survey and public outreach on Taveuni and an increase in removal effort of GII on the islands of Qamea, Matagi, and Laucala; and (iv) Strengthened knowledge management and awareness raising that targets the general public, tour operations and visitors, so as to safeguard the nation from IAS. FINANCING PLAN GEF Trust Fund USD 3,502,968 UNDP TRAC resources USD Cash co-financing to be administered by UNDP USD (1) Total Budget administered by UNDP USD 3,502,968 PARALLEL CO-FINANCING (all other co-financing that is not cash co-financing administered by UNDP) UNDP USD 101,096 Government USD 26,763,418 (2) Total co-financing USD 26,864,514 (3) Grand-Total Project Financing (1)+(2) USD 30,367,482 SIGNATURES Signature: print name below Agreed by Date/Month/Year: Government Signature: print name below Agreed by Date/Month/Year: Implementing Partner Signature: print name below Agreed by UNDP Date/Month/Year: 2 | P a g e I. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................... 3 II. Development Challenge ..................................................................................................................................... 6 III. Strategy ............................................................................................................................................................ 14 IV. Results and Partnerships.................................................................................................................................. 18 V. Feasibility ......................................................................................................................................................... 50 VI. Project Results Framework .............................................................................................................................. 57 VII. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan ........................................................................................................... 62 VIII. Governance and Management Arrangements ................................................................................................ 66 IX. Financial Planning and Management ............................................................................................................... 69 X. Total Budget and Work Plan ............................................................................................................................ 72 XI. Legal Context ................................................................................................................................................... 79 XII. Annexes ............................................................................................................................................................ 80 3 | P a g e List of Abbreviations AFL Airports Fiji Limited BAF Biosecurity Authority of Fiji CI Conservation International CTS Chief Technical Specialist DOE Department of Environment EDRR Early Detection and Rapid Response EDP Emergency Response Plan FIIT Four island IAS Taskforce FIST Fiji Invasive Species Taskforce FNU Fiji National University FRCA Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority GEF Global Environment Facility GII Giant Invasive Iguana GMO Genetically Modified Organisms GoF Government of Fiji IAS Invasive Alien Species IBA Important Bird Area IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature KBA Key Bird Area MDG Millennium Development Goal MEAs Multilateral Environmental Agreements MEPEPSC Ministry of Economy, Public Enterprises, Public Services and Communications MOE Ministry of Environment MTR Mid-Term Review NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NEC National Environment Council NGO Non-Governmental Organization NISFSAP National Invasive Species Framework and Strategic Action Plan PAO Project Administrative and Finance Officer PC Project Coordinator PILN Pacific Invasive Learning Network PIP Pacific Invasive Partnership PIR Project Implementation Review PIU Project Implementation Unit PPG Project Preparation Grant SDG Sustainable Development Goal SIP Stakeholder Involvement Plan SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community SPREP Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Program TE Terminal Evaluation 4 | P a g e UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNDP CO United Nations Development Programme Country Office UNDP RTA United Nations Development Programme Regional Technical Advisor USP University of South Pacific WPA Women’s Plan of Action WWF World Wide Fund for Nature 5 | P a g e II. DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE Fiji is an archipelago nation comprised of 332 islands situated in the southern Pacific Ocean. The country covers a total area of some 194,000 km2, of which the total land area is 18,376 km2. The two largest islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu comprise more than 85% of the total land area. The third largest of the Fijian islands is Taveuni at 434 km2. The geographic complexity and isolated nature of Pacific islands have led to the development of extremely high levels of terrestrial endemism. More than 946 endemic species are currently recorded from Fiji’s terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems (with fewer than 20 currently documented from Fiji’s marine ecosystems). About 23% of Fiji’s 1,769 vascular plant species are endemic, including an endemic family of primitive tree (Degeneraceae) and all of Fiji’s 24 native palm species, with many species endemic to a single island or site. Fiji’s 27 endemic bird species (or approximately 25% of the bird species in the country) include the Fiji petrel (Pseudobulweria macgillivrayi), the red-throated lorikeet (Charmosyna amabilis) – which are both listed as critically endangered by IUCN – as well as the silktail (Lamprolia victoriae), Ogea monarch (Mayrornis versicolor) and black-faced shrikebill (Clytorhynchus nigrogularis), all of which are listed as vulnerable to extinction by IUCN. Reptiles unique to Fiji include the Fijian copper-headed skink (Emoia parkeri), Fiji burrowing snake (Ogmodon vitianus),