Conservation and Management of the Endangered Fiji Sago Palm, Metroxylon vitiense, in Fiji

Abstract

Recovery planning is a key component of many threatened species conservation initiatives and can be a powerful awareness raising tool. One of the largest impediments to conservation efforts in the Pacific region however, is the lack of ecological data and its subsequent effects on the development of feasible and useful recovery plans for threatened species. Without these plans, the understaffed, underfunded and often technically ill-equipped conservation agencies face huge difficulties in planning, prioritizing and conducting conservation activities to adequately protect biodiversity. The Fiji sago palm, Metroxylon vitiense, is an endemic endangered palm species whose survival is heavily dependent on a feasible species recovery plan. It is geographically restricted and threatened by habitat destruction and overexploitation for thatch for the tourism industry and palm heart consumption by local consumers. Despite its threatened status, M. vitiense is not currently protected by national or international legislation. Recent field surveys and extensive stakeholder consultation have resulted in the production of a species recovery plan highlighting the importance of the species and advocating sustainable harvesting rather than complete bans to promote conservation. This article summarizes the recovery plan and its current effects on the status of M. vitiense in Fiji. We also discuss the role of different stakeholders in the conservation of M. vitiense, including the absence of significant behavioral changes by the largest consumer - the tourism industry, and the importance of recovery plans for biodiversity conservation in the Pacific.

The spatial distribution of sago palm landscape Sentani watershed in Jayapura District, Papua Province, Indonesia

“…Moreover, the average air temperature under the sago palm cluster during observation time spanning from August -December 2020, was discovered to range from 21.89-22.20 o C. Yet, the data collected from the BMKG station in Jayapura showed the average air temperature ranged from 27.60 to 28.48 o C, meaning the fluctuation of this factor under sago palm stand is relatively narrow or lower compared to the one within a clear area. The supporting optimal temperature for sago palm's growth ranges from 24.5-29 o C, where the lowest is 15 o C and relative moisture is from 70-90% (Morrison et al 2012). Also, air temperature change around the plant generally follows the fluctuation of local temperature conditions that were detected to be on averagely 28.82 o C in May.…”

Effect of Landform on the Distribution of Metroxylon sagu Habitat in Yapen Islands, Papua Province, Indonesia

“…The air temperature change surrounding the sago palm usually follows the fluctuation of local temperature conditions, which is 1.42 o C. Sago forest, above 200 masl, has a lower temperature due to the denser canopy and low light intensity. The optimum for sago palms to flourish ranges between 24.5 -29 o C, with the lowest being 15 o C and relative humidity of 70-90% (Morrison et al 2012;Okazaki and Kimura 2015). The air temperature value has been linked closely to two plant metabolism processes, namely photosynthesis and respiration.…”

Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of the Fiji Sago Palm Metroxylon vitiense

“…The others need a range of management interventions from cessation of harvesting to intensive weed removal and drainage reversal for them to survive (NFMV 2010;Morrison et al 2012). …”

“…The causes of decline and current threats of the Fiji sago palm are described in detail elsewhere (NFMV 2012;Morrison et al 2012); they are summarized here:…”