Sustainable livelihood strategies for conservation of biodiversity in Fiji, including potential crops and value adding opportunities in three FPAM project sites - Marketing of suitable products and recommendations; across three project sites: Greater Tomaniivi Protected Areas on Viti Levu, Greater Delaikoro Protected Areas on Vanua Levu, Taveuni Forest Reserve/Ravilevu Nature Reserve on Taveuni.

Abstract

Conservation of biodiversity, improving rural livelihoods and supporting sustainable agriculture are key issues globally, but for many Pacific Island Countries (PICs) key biodiversity reserves are under considerable pressure from clearing and degradation. Rural communities are often put in a situation where clearing of forest margins is undertaken to meet demand for arable land to produce food and generate income. Forest reserves are also degraded by logging, where timber royalties are important in the absence of other sources of income for traditional landowners and communities. Therefore, agroforestry and ecologically based agriculture systems in the forest margins can help to offset reliance on forest degradation and can enhance the buffers around key reserves. Sustainable forest management and ecotourism also need to be maximised to help meet these challenges of generating income whilst maintaining or enhancing biodiversity, conserving soil and water resources.