A recent study shows that local communities are on course to single-handedly deliver over half of the government target for protecting inshore ocean habitats. This comes as World Oceans Day is celebrated globally today. The study, by the University of Queensland, James Cook University and a local organization Wildlife Conservation Society estimates that by 2020, the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area network (FLMMA) will effectively protect between 12 and 18 per cent of all coastal and inshore marine habitats in Fiji. The authors conclude that communities’ own management efforts are Fiji’s biggest contributor to delivering a range of national and international targets. Dr Morena Mills, the lead author of the paper says the results of the study are remarkable given that locally managed marine area networks in Fiji are generally established only to meet local objectives, most notably to improve food security. However, the study also reveals that many challenges remain. Not all habitats are being protected equally, and some of the habitats that require the most protection, such as mangroves, intertidal mudflats, and coral reefs, still require stricter management. Full achievement of the national targets by 2020 may require additional incentives to protect these sensitive ecosystems.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 06:56:51 +0000
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