Download ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT (SUMMARY)

Country Partnership Strategy: Fiji,
2014–2018
ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT (SUMMARY)1
1.
Fiji is a large archipelago with diverse landscapes and climate. More than 300 islands
are scattered over 1.3 million square kilometers (km2) of ocean. The islands are characterized
by diverse ecosystems including significant areas of natural forest, freshwater, and coastal and
marine life. Since independence in 1970, many positive achievements have occurred in the
pursuit of environmentally sustainable development. However, some activities in support of
economic and social development have disturbed and in some instances destroyed the natural
environment. Nevertheless, the need to build healthy ecosystems, and resilience to the growing
impacts of climate change and climate variability, has been recognized.
A.
Environmental Challenges
2.
Fiji faces environmental challenges related to the degradation of land resources,
increased risk of flooding and inundation to coastal settlements as an impact of climate change,
unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, and the environmental impact of urbanization
which undermines people’s quality of life. The government recognizes the need for an all-hazard
approach that encompasses both natural and man-made disasters to better manage the risks
and achieve sustainable development.
3.
Land resources and biodiversity. While over 60% of Fiji’s total land area is suited to
some form of agricultural activity, only 29% is appropriate for arable farming. The nature of land
utilization practices, whether for agriculture, forestry, or mining activities, has also increased
risks associated with high soil erosion, river and stream contamination, sedimentation, pollution,
and flooding in low coastal and coral reef areas. In some instances, this has led to the
irreversible loss of biodiversity. The terrestrial flora and fauna of Fiji demonstrate a high degree
of endemism—over half (56%) of Fiji’s 1,594 known plant species are entirely endemic. Fiji has
48 terrestrial protected areas covering 488 km2 or 2.7% of its land area. These sites are formally
protected. Some 129 terrestrial, marine, and mangrove sites are faced with formal conservation
management challenges.2
4.
Marine and coastal resources. Fiji has an estimated 1,129 km of coastline within the
1.3 million km2 of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Offshore fisheries in this context make a
significant contribution to the Fijian economy but concerns exist regarding the number of
vessels operating, and the potential impacts on pelagic fisheries resources and nearshore coral
reefs. Major threats identified for Fiji’s coastal resources are the increasing rates of coastal
activities such as land reclamation, coral extraction, and river dredging, compounded by
unregulated residential and tourism development. Fiji has the third largest mangrove area
(38,000 hectares) in the Pacific but coastal area and wetland reclamation have caused
significant loss of mangrove areas and littoral forest, especially around heavily industrialized
areas, towns, and cities. Coastal pollution from land-based activities and waste is also a major
threat through increased siltation from reclamation, solid waste dump sites, eutrophication, and
groundwater seepage. Fiji’s reef systems are directly affected, with its reefs and near-atolls
spanning over 10,000 km2. The reefs’ health is vital to the large proportion of the populace
1
2
This summary is based on Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2005. Fiji: Country Environmental Analysis. Manila;
Government of Fiji. 2014. A Green Growth Framework for Fiji: Restoring the Balance in Development that is
Sustainable for Our Future. Draft; and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. 2013. 2013 Pacific Regional MDGs
Tracking Report. Suva.
Government of Fiji, Department of Environment. 2007. Implementation Framework 2010–2014 for the National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2007. Fiji.
2
dependent on subsistence or small-scale commercial fishing as well as the growing tourism
industry. Unsustainable activities, such as unregulated mangrove harvesting and the selling of
undersized fish and crustaceans, are demoralizing conservation efforts. Marine reserves have
been established with environmental management plans but enforcement is clearly lacking
because of lack of resources, lack of skilled labor, and unclear institutional arrangements.
5.
Water and sanitation. The consistent supply of clean, safe piped water and efficient
sewerage services are crucial for both rural and urban sectors in Fiji. Abundant rainfall, an intact
forest cover, and the presence of perennial rivers and streams ensure that the larger islands in
the archipelago have adequate supplies of water to meet the needs of the population. Dams are
built to harness water for electricity generation, with river water sourced for agriculture, forestry,
industry, and for processing waste. Freshwater also serves a crucial role in recreational,
cultural, and tourism purposes—raising issues around waste contamination and pollution. The
provision of reliable potable water on the smaller outer islands can be problematic in some
instances where rainwater is harvested. For sanitation, it is more challenging where it is
estimated that more than 50% of the rural population does not have access to proper waste
disposal services. In areas where no sewerage connection is available, typically septic tanks are
employed. Peri-urban populations are also underserved, especially with endemic squatter
settlements, although plans exist to expand urban sewerage systems to these communities.
6.
Urbanization and waste management. The prospect of jobs, income generation, and
better access to medical and educational facilities is driving an unsustainable rate of urban
migration. The 2007 national census found that 53% of the population resides in urban areas.3
This has contributed to the difficulties in addressing urban problems such as solid waste
disposal. Fiji’s municipal governments lack the mandate, resources, and personnel to implement
waste management initiatives effectively. This puts pressure on the management of all forms of
waste, with the continued use of unsanitary waste dumps, the absence of an effective rural
waste management system, a lack of civic pride exhibited through public littering and
enforcement of existing legislation, particularly in the policing of industrial pollution. As Fiji’s
economic performance improves with urbanization and population growth, the activities in all
sectors that ultimately lead to increased waste generation will increase. In addition to the
municipalities, the onus is on key statutory bodies such as the Land Transport Authority, the
Water Authority of Fiji, and the Maritime Safety Authority to regulate and monitor all manners of
waste effectively in their respective sectors.
B.
Climate Change, Natural Hazards, and Disaster Management
7.
Fiji experiences a distinct wet season from November to April and a dry season from
May to October. The pattern is strongly affected by the relative positions of the South Pacific
Convergence Zone, which is most intense during the wet season. The trade winds bring
orographic rainfall to eastern parts of the country. In addition to seasonal variation, the country
experiences high year-to-year variability associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) phenomena. El Niño events tend to bring dry conditions over the country, while La Niña
events are usually associated with wetter conditions. ENSO drives changes in rainfall, winds,
sea surface temperatures, and regions of tropical cyclone formation. During an ENSO event, the
dry season conditions are drier and cooler than normal, and wet season conditions are warmer
whereby tropical cyclones are more likely.
3
Fiji Bureau of Statistics. 2007 Census of Population. Fiji
3
8.
Fiji’s economy and its people are susceptible to the impacts of climate change and
climate variability. This has a substantial impact on health, coastal infrastructure, water
resources, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Impacts include reduced food and water security;
coral bleaching; changing human disease patterns; coastal flooding and erosion; depleted
inshore fisheries with landward retreating estuarine ecosystems; and higher vulnerability of
coastal populations and their assets to extreme weather events such as storm surges,
tsunamis, and king tides. The increasing incidence and intensity of these impacts are taking
their toll on the economy and the citizens. Tropical cyclones are one of the most severe extreme
events that affect Fiji. They usually occur from November to April, causing flooding of low-lying
coastal areas. The government reported almost 1.8 million people affected by disaster since
1974, including over 400 fatalities. Cyclones, floods, and storms accounted for almost half of
those affected, and although only two drought events were reported, drought accounted for
almost 45% of all disaster-affected people.4
9.
Large-scale flooding is also a very common event throughout Fiji, with more than
40 floods experienced in the country since 1975. These floods are mostly associated with
prolonged heavy rainfall during the passage of a tropical cyclone, tropical depression, and/or
enhanced, slow moving convergence zone. Localized flash flooding during the wet season
(November to April) is quite common. Based on modeling undertaken through the Pacific
Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative,5 Fiji is expected to incur on average $79
million per year in losses as a result of earthquakes and tropical cyclones. By 2064, Fiji has a
50% chance of experiencing a disaster causing a loss exceeding $750 million and casualties
greater than 1,200 people, and a 10% chance of experiencing a disaster causing a loss
exceeding $1.5 billion and casualties greater than 2,100 people.
10.
Fiji signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
1992. It affirmed this commitment to the UNFCCC by ratifying the Barbados Plan of Action,
1994, and the Mauritius Strategy, 2005–2015 to address the impacts of climate change in small
island states. At a regional level, the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change,
2006–2015 (under review) is focused on building the resilience of communities to climate
change. The Fijian National Climate Change Policy provides the framework that guides the
government’s strategic direction on issues relating to climate change. The policy focuses on
national planning, awareness raising, adaptation, mitigation, and financing.
11.
In relation to disaster risk management, Fiji has endorsed the Hyogo Framework for
Action, 2005–2015 and the regional Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Framework for Action,
2005–2015 (under review). National disaster management arrangements are covered under the
Natural Disaster Management Act, 1998 and the National Disaster Management Plan, 1995. A
comprehensive strategic planning approach to the management of associated risks is
necessary to respond to and manage natural disasters. More importantly, government policy
needs to shift away from the emphasis on efficient emergency response toward preparedness
and mitigation, and the integration of disaster impacts into national development planning and
strategic plans.
4
5
Government of Fiji. 2013. Post-Disaster needs Assessment: Tropical Cyclone Evan. Suva, Fiji.
Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment and Financing Initiative. a joint initiative of SOPAC/SPC, World Bank, and
the Asian Development Bank with the financial support of the Government of Japan, the Global Facility for Disaster
Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, and technical
support from AIR Worldwide, New Zealand GNS Science, Geoscience Australia, Pacific Disaster Center (PDC),
OpenGeo and GFDRR Labs.
4
C.
Policy, Regulatory, and Institutional Framework
12.
The People’s Charter, the 2010–2014 Roadmap, the Green Growth Framework for Fiji,
and the 2013 Constitution provide the national enabling environment for sustainable
development. They decree that sustainable development will be achieved through democracy,
just governance, inclusive development, national unity, and more importantly a healthy natural
environment. The Department of Environment is the lead environmental agency in Fiji. It is
housed in the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment.
The permanent secretary for the ministry is the designated focal point for all environmental
matters. The national Climate Change Unit is housed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and holds
responsibility for delivering relevant policy and coordinating climate change programs and
projects in Fiji. In 2008, Cabinet approved the formation of the carbon trading technical team.
The team works closely with the director of environment in establishing carbon trading projects
as part of the Voluntary and Compulsory Carbon Trading Markets. The Department of
Environment has formulated the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) policy guidelines,
which outline the framework for the development of CDM projects in Fiji. Similarly, with the
increasing opportunities created through the introduction of the United Nations Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) program, the Department of
Forestry has developed a National REDD+ Policy for Fiji.
13.
The National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) is focused on forestry,
agriculture, water, livestock, biodiversity and natural ecosystems. The NCCAS lays out an
approach to identify and implement efficient and effective activities to manage the existing and
anticipated consequences of climate change. Fiji is developing a joint national action plan for
climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management (DRM) as part of a regional
program. It is envisaged that the plan for CCA and DRM and the NCCAS will act as channels for
implementation of the National Climate Change Policy, and will provide greater detail regarding
specific programs and initiatives in these areas. The National Disaster Management Office (in
the Ministry of Provincial Development and National Disaster Management) has the mandate for
disaster management in Fiji, and was established in 2001 based on the Natural Disaster
Management Act, 1998. Its major roles are to initiate the formulation of disaster management
policies, implement policies, and advise on disaster related matters in addition to providing
disaster management training education and awareness.
D.
ADB Engagement
14.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has supported a range of activities contributing to
improved environmental outcomes and climate and disaster resilience. The Kinoya Sewerage
Treatment Plant Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Project developed under ADB’s Suva–
Nausori Water Supply and Sewerage Development Project develops and expands water supply
and sewerage treatment systems in Suva and Nausori urban areas. The project is the first
sewerage treatment initiative in Fiji and the Pacific to be registered as a CDM project. It involves
capturing and destroying methane emissions generated from decomposing organic sludge. In
2009, ADB approved an emergency assistance loan ($17.56 million) following the devastating
floods in January 2009, as well the allocation of the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund grant
in response to the January and March 2012 floods ($2 million in total). As ADB reengages,
further technical assistance support will be considered for CCA and DRR initiatives to assist
implement the National Climate Change Policy and National Climate Change Adaptation
Strategy. ADB will also help Fiji address its vulnerability to climate change risks by climate
proofing its investments, and by increasing the climate resilience of vulnerable sectors such as
water supply and sanitation.