Title
Recognition and Support of ICCAs in Fiji
Author(s)
Hugh Govan; Stacy Jupiter; James Comley
Published
2012
Abstract
The Republic of Fiji shares with other independent Pacific Island Countries a globally unique situation in which most of the territory is under customary ownership. While this situation originally represented a considerable challenge to European models of protected area establishment, the past 15 years have seen a proliferation of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) mainly in marine and coastal areas where they are known as Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). ICCAs comprise all of Fiji’s Marine Protected Areas covering 1,772,600 ha and three quarters of the terrestrial Protected Areas or 38,000 ha.
Fiji’s marine ICCAs do not have legal recognition and are driven by utilitarian and, to some extent, spiritual or stewardship values. The ICCAs are supported by government and NGOs alike under partnerships such as the Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area Network (FLMMA) and more recently the Protected Areas Committee (PAC). The LMMAs under the FLMMA Network form the basis not only for achieving national commitments to Protected Areas but also the main strategy for national inshore fisheries management.
The increasing pressure on natural resources exerted by increased monetization of the economy, moves to promote mining and other extractive industries, erosion of traditional governance and political and legal instability along ethnic lines (including 4 coup d’états and 2 abrogated constitutions since independence) represent threats demanding an increased attention to legal and institutional support of ICCAs. Terrestrial conservation is particularly neglected and under threat from potential land reforms and development.
Since the last coup in 2006 the legal situation is in a great state flux with the abrogation of the constitution, changes to the institutions and procedures for land management and the abolishment of the Great Council of Chiefs on the one hand and a large number of decrees and legislation under development such as the review of the Fisheries Act, Forestry legislation and Mining Act on the other. The rapidly changing legal situation provides opportunities and also risks for the recognition of ICCAs, which will need careful monitoring and input in what has been a hitherto unconducive environment owing to the censorship and intimidation experienced under the Public Emergency Regulations which were only lifted in January 2012.
ICCAs are generally recognized to be core to the management of terrestrial and coastal resources, but greatly increased emphasis is required to develop strategies for building overall national approaches supported by government policy, legislation, budgetary and institutional mechanisms.
Full Citation
Govan, H., S. Jupiter and J. Comley (2012). Recognition and Support of ICCAs in Fiji. In: Kothari, A. with Corrigan, C., Jonas, H., Neumann, A., and Shrumm, H. (eds). Technical Series no. 64: Recognising and Supporting Territories and Areas Conserved By Indigenous Peoples And Local Communities: Global Overview and National Case Studies. Montreal, Canada: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ICCA Consortium, Kalpavriksh, and Natural Justice, 1-32.
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