FINAL REPORT THEMATIC ASSESSMENT The Convention on Biological Diversity & the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ‘To be economically sustainable, development has to be environmentally sustainable’ prepared for Department of Environment prepared by Dr Patricia Kailola UNCBD Consultant Reviewed and edited by: the NCSA Project Steering Committee, NCSA Project and UNDP Fiji Contents Acknowledgements 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 5 Background Purpose 5 National Implementation of the Convention 5 Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action 6 Capacity Constraints Areas for Action and Recommendations 7 THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY 9 National Implementation 9 Areas for Action and Recommendations 9 Overview of Fijis Biodiversity 10 Fiji’s Background 10 Climatic Conditions 10 Socio Economic Status 10 Status of Biodiversity 11 Biodiversity of Ecosystem 14 Trends in Changing Biodiversity 15 Causes of Depletion of Biodiversity 16 1 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (or biodiversity) 2 National Implementation record for the CBD 2.1 Fiji background 20 2.2 National Obligation Under the Convention 20 2.3 First national report to the CBD 20 2.4 Second national report to the CBD 21 2.5 A third national report 21 2.6 National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan 21 2.7 Other policies and programmes related to biological diversity conservation and sustainable use 22 2.8 The NEC and the NCSD 23 2.9 Status OF Implementation of CBD IN Fiji 25 2.10 Protected Area Management 26 2.11 National Activities Under The Convention 31 2.12 Relevant Pacific programmes 43 2.13 International conventions 45 2.14 MDGs and Strategic Development Goals 46 3 Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 3.1 NBSAP committees 49 3.2 Review of the Implementation of the NBSAP Action Plan 50 3.3 Status of high priority and priority projects 52 3.4 Summary of constraints for the priority actions 59 2 4 Review of Implementation of the CBD 4.1 Focal Point for the CBD 59 4.2 Relevant Articles under the CBD and responses 60 4.3 Related biodiversity initiatives 61 4.4 Legislation 64 5 Capacity assessment and recommendations of the Government of Fiji, implementing agency and partner institutions 5.1 Systemic 5.1.1 Fiji Government 66 5.2 Institutional 5.2.1 General Government 69 5.3 Individual 5.3.1 Department of Environment 77 5.5 Non-Government Organizations 77 5.6 Overall constraints and recommendations 80 6 The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 6.1 National Implementation 82 6.2 Areas for Action 83 6.3 Capacity needs / Recommendations for Fiji 84 Appendixes 1. Acronyms 2. Guiding principles of Fiji’s NBSAP 3. Environment statement in Fiji’s Millennium Development Goal report, 2004 4. Environment statements in recent Strategic Development Plans: a) Sustainable Economic and Empowerment Development Strategy (SEEDS) 2008-2010. “A Better Fiji for All” November 2007 (current Government) b) Strategic Development Plan 2007-2011, November 2006 (previous Government) c) Strategic Development Plan, 2003-2005, November 2002 (previous Government) 5. List of international conventions, treaties and protocols relevant to the environment that Fiji has signed, or has overlooked 6. NBSAP Action and Implementation Framework a) Focus One – community support, awareness, involvement, ownership b) Focus Two – improving our knowledge c) Focus Three – developing protected areas d) Focus Four – species conservation e) Focus Five – control of invasive species f) Focus Six – capacity building and strengthening 7. Relevant Articles of the CBD and responses 8. Marine protection system by 2020 9. Persons interviewed and contacted 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The project team extends sincere appreciation to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for financing Fiji’s National Capacity Self Assessment Enabling Activity and the implementing agency United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Fiji Multi Country Office for enabling Fiji to undertake relevant assessments of the three Rio United Nations (UN) Conventions including the UNCBD. Special thanks to the following for the support, assistance and resources during the execution of this Thematic Assessment report: The staff of Government Departments, Non-Government Organisations, Academic Institutions, Statutory Bodies, private organisations, and individuals. the Institute of Applied Sciences, USP Department of Environment staff (Project Manager and Director of Environment Mr. Epeli Nasome, National Project Coordinator, Ms Senivasa Waqaraimasi, Project Assistant Ms. Kelera Tokalau and Principal Environment Officer Ms Eleni Tokaduadua UNFCCC Consultant Dr. Paulo Vanualailai, UNCCD Consultant Mr. Leone Limalevu and International Consultant Mr. Ashis Mohapatra The project team apologises for any omissions and oversights in this assessment of Fiji conservation and biodiversity programme information which was offered (and recorded). The National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) Project – Fiji PD Patel Building 90 Raojibhai Patel Street Suva Project website: www.ncsafiji.com 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Convention on Biological Diversity Background i) The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a ‘Rio Convention’ resulting from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Fiji signed the Convention at that time, indicating its commitment to the Convention’s objectives. Fiji ratified the CBD on 25 February 1993. Purpose ii) This National Capacity Self-Assessment within the thematic area of Biodiversity seeks to review Fiji’s implementation of the CBD. The aim is to identify priority areas for action so that more appropriate actions may be implemented. As part of this project, a stocktaking exercise was conducted in July 2008 that provided a ‘baseline situation’ of the country’s implementation of the Convention. Information for the Stocktake report was gathered from stakeholders, comprising local and regional non-Government Organisations (NGOs), government departments and statutory bodies, community-based organisations, and private companies; also the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). iii) The objectives of the thematic profile are to identify and record the activities that have taken place under the different CBD Articles, appraise the NBSAP, identify capacity constraints (systemic, institutional and individual) and make recommendations on how constraints can be addresses and capacity building enhanced. National Implementation of the Convention iv) Since the entry into force of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties (COP) has held nine meetings and adopted many decisions on a variety of thematic areas and cross- cutting issues related to implementation of the Convention’s Articles. In addition to implementing the decisions made by the COP, Parties are obliged to submit national reports and develop National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans. v) Since ratifying the Convention, Fiji has implemented the following Convention decisions: ▪ submission of its first (interim report) and second National Reports to the CBD Secretariat; and ▪ completion and distribution of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. vi) Fiji’s NBSAP, the National Strategy and Action Plan – Fiji Islands – Challenging Fiji’s Future in Every Way, was developed under the guidance of a multi-sectoral National Biodiversity Steering Committee with implementation and funding from the United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF). It was executed by the Fiji Department of Environment and completed and published later in September 2007. Its contents include: ▪ an overview of Fiji’s biodiversity and its benefits towards sustainable development; ▪ the major gaps and challenges affecting the conservation and sustainable use of Fiji’s biodiversity; ▪ a national strategy and action plan; ▪ project profiles and briefs; ▪ relevant appendixes; and ▪ priority issues identified at the national level. 5 Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and the CBD commitments vii) Fiji’s NBSAP identified priority projects and activities. It also made a number of recommendations, identified six focal points and 104 objectives relating to the goals outlined in the identified national strategy. The focal points are (a) Community support – awareness, involvement and ownership, (b) Improving our knowledge, (c) Developing protected areas, (d) Species conservation, (e) Management of invasive species, and (f) Capacity building and strengthening. viii) Fulfilling the NBSAP has fallen well short of expectations. Although the Department of Environment led the preparation of the NBSAP, consistent with its obligations as CBD focal point, it has been unable to fully implement most of the activities because of resource and capacity constraints. Implementation of many NBSAP actions has fallen instead on the shoulders of NGOs and academic institutions in Fiji. ix) Meeting obligations of the CBD has been better followed in Fiji. Again, much of it is performed by the NGOs because of constraints in the Department of Environment which however, has assisted by providing an enabling environment when it is able. The departments of Forestry and Fisheries have made substantial commitments. The Quarantine section of the Department of Agriculture, the National Trust, and the Department of Culture and Heritage has made important conservation contributions to Fiji also. Capacity Constraints Systemic Capacity x) Little has