THE KINGDOM OF TONGA KINGDOM OF TONGA’S FIFTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Tonga’s Fifth Review Report on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2014 Review of Tonga’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan – Fifth Report Contributors: Dr. Viliami Manu MAFFF Dr. Viliami Kami MAFFF Mr. Taniela Hoponoa MAFFF Mr. Poasi Fale Ngaluafe MAFFF Ms. Atelaite Lupe Matoto MLECCNR Ms. Lu’isa Malolo MLECCNR Ms. Mafile’o Masi MLECCNR Mr. Siosiua Latu MLECCNR Mr. ‘Atelea Kautoke MLECCNR Ms. ‘Ana Fekau MLECCNR Ms. Eileen Fonua MLECCNR Ms. Pelenatita Kara Civil Society Editors: Mr. ‘Asipeli Palaki Ms. ‘Atelaite Lupe Matoto Ms. Eileen Fonua Ms. Pelenatita Kara NBSAP Project Management Unit Ms. Eileen Fonua Project Coordinator Mr. Vivieni Sika Assistant Administration Officer MARCH 2014 Page | 2 Tonga’s Fifth Review Report on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2014 Executing Summary Review Tonga National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and develop a Tonga’s Fifth National Report. Tonga is one of the many islands that are endowed with unique resources and derives much of its economic, environmental and social well-being directly or indirectly from its environment. Tonga harbours numerous special ecosystems: from the peak of Mt, Talau in Vava’u, to the serenity of Vai Lahi in Niuafo’ou; the vulnerability of the Ha’apai Group to ‘Eua’s National Forest and to the Fanga’uta Lagoon in Tongatapu. Beyond the aesthetic beauty of the ecosystems to tourists and visitors; they provide immense support to the communities whose livelihoods are centred. They provide food, shelter, fresh water, wood, fibre, medicine, fuel, tools and raw materials. They also provide spiritual, recreational values, educational references as well as contributing to the economies, livelihoods and culture of Tonga. Our ecosystems maintain and provide protection against diseases, climate, natural disasters, support nutrients cycling, and aid sand and soil formation. Ecosystems and their biodiversity underpin sustainable development and human wellbeing. The loss of biodiversity results in serious reductions in ecosystem goods and services, negatively impacting economic prosperity and social and environmental sustainability. Therefore, there is a need to invest and re-invest in the productivity, health and sustainability of our ecosystems. The well-being of the world population in the coming decades will at large depend on conservation and restoration of ecosystems to maintain and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services, thereby contributing to sustainable development while reducing economic, social and environment related risks. Objectives: The objectives of this report are to: 1. Update on biodiversity status, trends, and threats and implications for human well-being 2. Identify the current status of national biodiversity strategy and action plan, its implementation, and the mainstreaming of biodiversity 3. Discuss the Progress towards the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and contributions to the relevant 2015 Targets of the Millennium Development Goal. Page | 3 Tonga’s Fifth Review Report on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2014 An ecological, socio-economic survey was conducted to review the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) and to develop the 5th National report. A series of community consultations in Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Vava’u, Ha’apai, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou islands groups were conducted. There were also literature and desk review, field observations and in depth interviews with various stakeholders. Chapter 1 based its discussions on the updating of the biodiversity status, trends, threats and implications on human wellbeing. This includes forest, agro-biodiversity, marine ecosystems and species conservation. Forest ecosystem The current status of biodiversity has raised some questions with regards to the validity of the five species included in the IUCN Red List of 2009. Of the five species submitted, only Aglaia heterotricha (langakali vao) is supported and therefore should be maintained in the list. The other species recommended for inclusion include Casearia bluelowii and Sesbania coccinea. Target species identified for conservation should have regulatory protection and should be enforced by the law. Annual ban should be imposed on harvesting and trading of specific species that are either endemic or near extinction. Land use policy, plans and strategies are thoroughly considered for the protection and conservation of forest ecosystems and to address its multipurpose potentials. The lack of and/or absence of management plans for the conservation and protection of endemic species continue to pose major threat. Moreover the uncontrolled and illegal harvesting, as well as, encroachment was identified as common threats to biodiversity conservation in Tonga. People’s attitudes and behaviour may also attribute to biodiversity conservation threats. Commercial farming has also been identified as a major threat to forest ecosystem conservation. Increased number of invasive species continues to threaten our traditional genetic resources. Agrobiodiversity There is a reduction in variety of traditional crop species as you move further north from Tongatapu. This is due to the islands smallness and remoteness from Tongatapu. The variety of fruit trees are also decreased due to increase competition for land use, especially for commercial farming and population increase. Page | 4 Tonga’s Fifth Review Report on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2014 Other threats identified include heavy dependency on machinery for cultivation, fertilisers and pesticides, and climate change and natural disasters. Urban Spatial Management Act of 2012 and the National Land Use Policy could both attribute to a more comprehensive land use management. Tonga’s limited genetic pool may lead to loss of traditional genetic materials that may have been endemic to Tonga. This could explain the poor diversity in our root crop species (tuber- base cultivars) in comparison to fruit trees (seed based cultivars). Marine ecosystems The demand for marine resources has increased due to Tonga’s growing population and change in dietary demands. Overexploitation and destructive fishing practices are still the major threats to the marine ecosystem although natural disasters (i.e. hurricanes & tsunamis, water temperatures variations, natural predators, etc.) may contribute. The destructive fishing methods such as dynamite fishing, fish poisoning and using hookah and SCUBA diving are still ongoing activities even though regulatory wise, these fishing methods has been declared illegal practices under Fisheries Management Act 2002. The SCUBA and hookah under water using air apparatus boasted as other major threats for the reef fishes and sea cucumbers resources included giant clams’ species (i.e. Tridacnidae). Pollution and eutrophication also affect Tonga’s coastal waters and reefs (Anon, 2010). The trend of the marine biodiversity is still unknown. The only baseline information might assist in determining the change in the marine ecosystem (refer to tables & figures indicated on chapter 1 of marines thematic area) is the landing catch and export production recorded by Fisheries Division database for the major commercial marine resources at Tongan coastal waters during this period (2010 – 2013). Species Conservation The fourth National report articulated the success of species conservation could be contributed to the involvement of private sector and civil society. This fifth national report has seen another stunning success, more donors are funding projects related to species conservation. For example, Tonga is a participant in two significant multi-country projects, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), that are focused on the conservation of biodiversity and the management of major threats that cause biodiversity loss. The two projects are both under the Page | 5 Tonga’s Fifth Review Report on the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2014 auspices of the Pacific Alliance for Sustainability housed under the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (PAS-SPREP) The GEF-PAS (GEF –Pacific Alliance for Sustainability) Island Biodiversity Project titled ‘Implementing the Island Biodiversity Programme of Work by integrating the conservation management of island biodiversity’ and the GEF-PAS Pacific Invasive Project. There are more regulatory framework are drafted and passed, more flexible working environment are provided for government ministry to operate in- to ease implementation and execution of duties in relation to species conservation. To date, 13 more Special Management Areas were added to 13 protected areas of 2010, 12 organically certified sites and in situ and ex situ based projects have been funded for terrestrial and marine based organisms. There is also a major boost in the amount of donor funded projects that are involved in species and resource conservation thus giving Tonga a lot of prospect for becoming a major conservation hub in the region. There is also a collective effort to put into place regulatory framework that could govern conservation effort. Collaboration and partnerships between donors, government ministries and those of the civil societies has also been instrumental in this success. Chapter 2 deals with National biodiversity strategy and action plan, its implementation and the mainstreaming of biodiversity. The reviewing of the implementation