Fiji, with a population of over 850,000, is one of the most populated islands in the South Pacific. It consists of 300 islands, most of which are volcanic; around 100 are inhabited. These islands are home to a rich variety of ecosystems, including lush rainforests, volcanic mountains, pristine coral reefs, and vast ocean depths. This diverse environment supports a unique array of species, with more than half of its plants and birds being endemic to Fiji.

Notably, Fiji ranks third globally for the number of threatened endemic species and possesses the largest expanse of intact, unprotected forests within the Polynesia-Micronesia biodiversity hotspot, which includes about 4,500 islands. Nearly half of Fiji’s forests remain intact, and 87% of the land is owned by indigenous Fijians, contributing significantly to its conservation.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	53.10	119	N/A
Land Management	29	177	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	13	165	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	7	180	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	28	163	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	3	92	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	100	1	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	22	138	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use
Threats to Biodiversity	63	84	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	80	128	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	76	18	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	76	133	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	98	38	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	10	148	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	42	15	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	42	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	88	124	N/A
Capacity and Governance	69	36	N/A
Total Management Cost	97	78	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	54	40	N/A
Conservation Legislation	31	133	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	70	3	N/A
Control of Corruption	58	52	N/A
Government Effectiveness	62	43	N/A
Future Trends	51	38	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	51	38	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Fiji takes pride in its 48 terrestrial protected areas, covering an area of 488 km² (188 mi²), which is equivalent to 2.7% of the country’s landmass. These areas are established under eight Nature Reserves and 40 Forest Reserves. Fiji’s marine environment is also well-protected, with 57 designated marine protected areas. These areas play a crucial role in safeguarding a significant portion of Fiji’s coral reefs and marine biodiversity. What makes Fiji’s protected areas unique is the involvement of indigenous communities. Local communities, through traditional management systems, establish and manage many of these areas, ensuring the preservation of both cultural heritage and biodiversity.

Threats to Biodiversity

Fiji’s diverse ecosystem is constantly facing numerous challenges from various sectors, mainly due to human activities associated with economic development. Over-fishing, exploitation, and pollution from agricultural and industrial waste are some of the human-induced threats that are negatively impacting Fiji’s biodiversity.

Additionally, the introduction of various species of fish, shellfish, and crustaceans for aquaculture, ornamental purposes, sports fishing, or biological controls has further compounded the situation. Unplanned and uncoordinated tourism activities can also become a significant threat to Fiji’s biodiversity. One major concern is the destruction of habitats in the coastal areas for tourism development, adversely affecting the mangrove, estuaries, reef, and foreshore ecosystems.

Capacity and Governance

Fiji has made significant progress in protecting its biodiversity, with over 100 Locally Managed Marine Protected Areas (LMMAs) and the identification of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), Important Bird Areas (IBAs), nationally significant wetland sites, and fish aggregation and spawning sites. To manage ecosystems better, Fiji is increasingly adopting an ecosystem-based approach, particularly in the Kubulau reserve, and has introduced quota systems for marine and terrestrial export commodities as per CITES and the Endangered and Protected Species Act (2002).

Several thriving programs have been established, ranging from terrestrial ecosystems to marine ecosystems, with positive outcomes already identified by communities. Fiji has developed strict Environment Management and Monitoring Plans related to logging, quarry and sewage treatment plans, and is replanting mangroves in most Pacific Island Countries. The National Turtle Recovery Plan expects sea turtle populations in Fiji to have measurably recovered to levels that allow for sustainable harvesting and traditional use by 2026. Indigenous populations play a crucial role in biodiversity protection, with community members at the village level actively involved in planning and decision-making, data collection, and protection of resources in the Navakavu Clan.

The Ministry of Education, through the Culture and Heritage Department, is conducting a survey and mapping of traditional knowledge. Farmers are also cooperating to combat pests harmful to Fiji. Environmental education programs, such as those conducted by the Mamanuca Environment Society (MES), have been carried out in schools to raise children’s environmental awareness. These initiatives have yielded positive results, with increased awareness among adults and children about conserving resources. Finally, the enforcement of the Environment Management Act 2005 has resulted in operation compliance, with notifications issued to all commercial buildings and industries on the need to acquire a permit to generate waste.

Future Trends

Fiji’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) serves as a crucial framework for detailing the country’s strategies and actions aimed at curbing biodiversity loss. The current plan, which spans from 2020 to 2025, concentrates on six main areas: enhancing knowledge, expanding protected areas, managing species, controlling invasive species, and establishing supportive conditions. The primary objectives of the NBSAP are to preserve Fiji’s distinctive biodiversity, including its endemic species and ecosystems, promote the sustainable utilization of natural resources, ensure the equitable distribution of biodiversity benefits among all Fijians, and contribute to international biodiversity conservation efforts.

Biodiversity

Fiji’s islands are home to lush tropical rainforests that are rich in plant diversity. These forests host numerous endemic species of trees, ferns, and orchids. Notable among these is the Fiji tree frog, the Fiji banded iguana, and the Fiji crested iguana. Birdlife is also diverse, with species such as the collared lory, the red-throated lorikeet, and the critically endangered Fiji petrel. The mountainous regions of larger islands like Viti Levu and Vanua Levu provide unique habitats for many of these species.

Fiji’s marine ecosystems are particularly notable for their coral reefs, which are some of the most vibrant and diverse in the world. These reefs support a wide variety of marine life, including over 1,200 species of fish, numerous coral species, and invertebrates. Notable marine species include manta rays, hawksbill turtles, and the humphead wrasse. The Great Astrolabe Reef, one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, is a key feature of Fiji’s marine biodiversity.

Mangrove forests and seagrass beds along Fiji’s coastlines are vital for the health of marine ecosystems. These areas serve as nurseries for fish and other marine life and provide protection against coastal erosion. The mangroves are also important for carbon sequestration and support various bird species and other wildlife.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Fiji only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	29 (#187)	7	24.1%	1	3.4%
Birds	108 (#192)	14	13.0%	36	33.3%
Reptiles	44 (#124)	15	34.1%	15	34.1%
Amphibians	3 (#175)	1	33.3%	2	66.7%
Fishes	1,313 (#26)	48	3.7%	4	0.3%
Plants	2,508 (#139)	78	3.1%	38	1.5%