Priority Forests for Conservation in Fiji: landscapes, hotspots and ecological processes

Abstract

D a v i d O l s o n , L i n d a F a r l e y , A l e x P a t r i c k , D i c k W a t l i n g , M a r i k a T u i w a w a V i l i k e s a M a s i b a l a v u , L e m e k i L e n o a , A l i v e r e t i B o g i v a , I n g r i d Q a u q a u J a m e s A t h e r t o n , A k a n i s i C a g i n i t o b a , M o a l a T o k o t a ' a , S u n i l P r a s a d W a i s e a N a i s i l i s i l i , A l i p a t e R a i k a b u l a , K i n i k o t o M a i l a u t o k a C r a i g M o r l e y and T h o m a s A l l n u t t Abstract Fiji's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan encourages refinements to conservation priorities based on analyses of new information. Here we propose a network of Priority Forests for Conservation based on a synthesis of new studies and data that have become available since legislation of the Action Plan in 2001.For selection of Priority Forests we considered minimum-area requirements for some native species, representation goals for Fiji's habitats and species assemblages, key ecological processes and the practical realities of conservation areas in Fiji. Forty Priority Forests that cover 23% of Fiji's total land area and 58% of Fiji's remaining native forest were identified. The analysis confirms the majority of conservation priority areas previously identified, recommends several new areas, and supports the Government of Fiji's policy goal of protecting 40% of remaining natural forests to achieve the goals of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and sustain ecosystem services for Fijian communities and economies.

Biological Invasions in Conservation Planning: A Global Systematic Review

“…Specifically in the marine environment, the approaches that have been followed so far were to either protect alien biodiversity by setting conservation targets in MARXAN for both native and alien species (Giakoumi et al, 2011), or by estimating cumulative impact indices that included invasive alien species and either incorporate them in the cost function (Tallis et al, 2008), or adequately modify the optimization algorithm of MARXAN (Klein et al, 2013). All the other approaches applied in the freshwater or terrestrial environments can be transferred to the marine environment as well, i.e., exclusion of highly impacted areas Rouget et al, 2003;Pierce et al, 2005;Olson et al, 2010;Reid et al, 2012;Sealey et al, 2014), maximizing contribution to measures of condition and complementarity (Ausseil et al, 2011), or applying a least-cost path analysis including invasive alien species in the cost matrix (Lagabrielle et al, 2009). …”

“…Similarly, Pierce et al (2005) excluded from the planning process areas transformed by urbanization, agriculture, afforestation and dense stands of invasive alien plants. Olson et al (2010) prioritized natural forests that were >4.5 km away from the edge of the forest or roads; at such distances introduced predators such as rats, mongoose, cats and dogs were scarce. Reid et al (2012) attempted to identify Frontiers in Marine Science | www.frontiersin.orgFIGURE 3 | Mosaic charts showing (A) if alien species were considered of concern in the various realms, (B) which approach ("protect," "avoid," or "ignore") was adopted in conservation plans concerning alien species by environment, (C) which approach was adopted in conservation plans concerning alien species in relation to the targeted features, and (D) if other drivers impacting conservation efforts were taken into account in addition to biological invasions.…”

Evaluating the influence of candidate terrestrial protected areas on coral reef condition in Fiji

“…Analyses to identify priorities for conservation of terrestrial resources have been 74 conducted at the national scale. Olson et al (2010) proposed a network of 40 priority forests for 75 conservation (henceforth 'priority forests') that cover 23% of Fiji's total land area and 58% of Fiji's 76 remaining native forest (Fig. 1).…”

“…Two ecological 92 goals are consistently discussed across the various conservation efforts, including: (1) comprehensive 93 representation of Fiji's major vegetation types; and (2) protection of endemic, threatened and culturally 94 important species [8,10,11]. Systematic conservation planning principles were used to design networks of 95 protected areas consistent with these goals.…”

A new species of iguana Brachylophus Cuvier 1829 (Sauria: Iguania: Iguanidae) from Gau Island, Fiji Islands

“…Local outreach and education will be an important tool in their long-term protection and the protection of their habitats into the future. Gau Island had previously been identified as a site of conservation significance for Fiji due to its retention of an altitudinal range of moist forest in a large single block that supports Fiji's only endemic seabird (Olson et al 2010). Although approximately 40% of Gau contains forested habitats, many of these habitats occur as isolated patches at the lower elevations.…”