Conservation and sustainable utilization of the fiji sago palm Metroxylon vitiense

Abstract

The Fiji sago palm is an endemic palm with a restricted and declining population, whose long-term survival is threatened by habitat loss and unsustainable harvesting for thatch and heart of palm. NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, a Fijian conservation organization, initiated a campaign in 2007 to highlight its endangered status and to stimulate the introduction of conservation management measures. After widespread consultation with the landowners of the remaining sago stands, users, government and administrative agencies, and other stakeholders, a 2010- 2015 Species Recovery Plan was endorsed by the government and became the foundation for implementation activities. The plan is currently being reviewed with a view to the preparation of a successor. This paper reviews the successes and failures of the past 5 years of implementation. Despite some notable successes, given the seriousness of the decline of the Fiji sago palm, the achievements can be viewed as mixed, while overall progress has been an insufficient response in the circumstances. In part, this is probably because the project is not owned or mainstreamed by the government (which has not contributed funding); the administrative energy still remains with NatureFiji-MareqetiViti which has difficulties in resourcing a program with the necessary continuity.