Endemism: a treasure under threat
The islands share a treasure that is also their bane: a high level of endemism. Isolated from the mainland, the evolution of animal and plant species has often followed its own course, culminating in unique beings perfectly adapted to their environment. Fiji is no exception to this incredible phenomenon. There are over 3,000 living species, of which almost 500 are endemic. The archipelago is thus one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots: a small group of regions in the world, home to the majority of the world's species.
Unfortunately, this endemic flora and fauna is often particularly vulnerable. They are so adapted and specialized to their environment that the slightest change can seriously disrupt them. Of Fiji's 3,000 species, 361 are threatened, half of which are on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list.
In Fiji, the main threat is habitat destruction, mainly due to urbanization and agriculture. Invasive alien species (IAS), i.e. plants and animals from other parts of the world that have adapted a little too well to their new environment, are also a major threat.
To reverse this phenomenon, which is driving many species to extinction, various programs exist, notably for the reintroduction, reforestation or elimination of invasive alien species. The Fiji crested iguana(Brachylophus vitiensis), a reptile endemic to the north-west of the archipelago, is the subject of a reintroduction program.
The threat of rising waters
The Fijian archipelago is already suffering the consequences of global warming. Yet Fijians are not contributing much, emitting just 1.77 t ofCO2 per capita in 2019 - 2.5 times less than a French person and 8 times less than an American. Rising water has already swallowed up portions of the coastline, and has even wiped the cemetery in the village of Togoru, south of Viti Levu, off the map. Some have already anticipated the problem: in 2014, the village of Vunidogoloa moved entirely to higher ground.
The Fijian government estimates that over 600 communities are already seriously threatened by rising waters. While evacuation is currently the only solution envisaged, it promises to be particularly complicated to organize, since over 70% of the population lives less than 5 km from the coast.
Fiji is determined to make its voice heard by the international community. It chaired COP23, the 2017 climate conference held in Bonn, Germany. The aim of this conference is to encourage the signatories of the Paris agreements to take concrete action for the climate. As chair of the conference, Fiji tried to raise awareness of the alarming situation facing small island states. To do so, they illustrated the urgency of the situation with their own case, as the conference was being held a few months after the passage of category 5 cyclone Winston, the most intense storm ever to hit the country.
Waste management: a challenge for an island state
Fiji's geographical isolation, small size and limited resources make waste management particularly difficult. As a result, waste is often burnt as a source of atmospheric pollutants, buried in pits to pollute the soil, or deposited in open dumps, despite the risk of losing some of the waste to the oceans.
Fiji is actively working to improve the situation, and is for example the focus of various programs, such as SWAP (Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific), a program supported by the French Development Agency, and aimed at organizing sustainable waste management in the Pacific. The country, which regularly sees garbage washing up on its shores, has decided to go one step further, with a total ban on polystyrene and plastic bags.
Fiji's national parks
The best way to enjoy Fiji's fascinating nature is to explore one of its four national parks, or one of its many marine sanctuaries or reserves. It's advisable to be accompanied by a local guide, not only to avoid getting lost, but also to take advantage of his or her knowledge to learn about the archipelago's rich biodiversity (and also to spot animals too well hidden for the amateur eye)!
Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park offers lunar landscapes: a desert expanse in the middle of the Pacific! The sand forms a series of dunes over a length of 2.5 km, a landscape that stands out from the rainforest. The rainforest can be admired at the Colo-i-Suva Forest Reserve, a 5 km2 area of tropical forest, rivers and waterfalls, home to lush flora and fauna, including the Miro boodang(Petroica boodang), a small red-bellied bird, and the Fiji Goshawk(Accipiter rufitorques), an endemic bird of prey to the archipelago.
On the island of Taveuni, Bouma National Park is home to Fiji's most famous waterfalls, the Bouma Falls. This lush paradise was nearly decimated when, in 2001, it was about to be sold to the timber industry. The local community helped avert this catastrophe, and in the process decided to turn the area into a national park.
