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PAME study to assess the effectiveness of National Trust for Fiji PAs and provision of appropriate Ranger equipment to enhance the management of these sites

Terrestrial Protected Area Indigenous and Community Conserved Area (ICCA) Key Biodiversity Area

Governance Management effectiveness

Local Communities Indigenous Communities National or local PA agency

Survey/Data knowledge management Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) Protected Area Governance Effectiveness (PAGE)

EUR 68,161 ; Pacific 1 November 2020 - 31 October 2021

Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

Waisali Rainforest Reserve, Yadua Taba Crested Iguana Sanctuary, Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary – Wildlife Sanctuary, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, Garrick Reserve – Nature Reserve, Sovi Basin Protected Area

WDPA IDs: 555592856, 9637, 15132, 9640, 555592859

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

Enhance the management and governance of priority protected areas by addressing existing limitations.

Priority need addressed

Field equipment is inadequate to perform critical management activities.
Visitor facilities are inappropriate to the level of visitors use.
Conduct PAME assessment.

Project activities

This project is an excellent opportunity for the NTF to properly resource and equip NTF protected areas, as well as undertake research to improve the management of protected areas.

The NTF will purchase field equipment and Ranger Kits, for distribution to Rangers at all sites. At the same time NTF GIS Officer will provide in-house training to all Rangers in the use of SMART Tools and GPS. The new equipment will be used for site monitoring and critical management activities.

NTF will purchase media and other equipment for the NTF Site Visitor Information Centres. These new equipment will be used for community and visitor awareness, and for the NTF Heritage and Young Hands Program (HIYH). The HIY program is implemented throughout the year with school children in the region.

A protected Area Management Effectiveness study of six protected areas managed by the NTF, will be undertaken by a consultant working closely with the NTF project team. The team will work closely with the key stakeholders including the provinicial administrators of site areas with traditional presentations, and participatory approaches of focus group discussions and meetings.

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

Quality data and information are essential to inform sound decision making for the NTF PAs. Through the provision of field equipment the NTF will improve field data collection and management of data by NTF Rangers. NTF rangers will expand the use of GIS as a tool for data storage, analysis and presentation and implement the use of SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) as a monitoring and data tool. This will enable the NTF able to better monitor site indicators across the NTF PAs and provide management with good data analysis.

At the NTF Visitor Information Centres, the NTF will now be able to improve the provision of awareness and communication resources through panels, guides, brochures, and media.This will generate more interest in the site, expand educational information especially through the NTF’s Heritage in Young Hands Program, and increase opportunities for the visitor (both international and local) to experience and understand the conservation needs of the site.

The evaluation of Management Effectiveness of the six NTF Protected will lead to the design of proactive management of the NTF sites.

Download the project infofiche.