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VIWA ISLAND RESTORATION PROJECT
Viwa Island
Viwa Island (60 ha) is about 900 m off the east coast of main island of Viti Levu. It has a small village with a population of about 104 residents. This was the first place where the Bible was translated to Fijian and printed and is the British commemorative memorial to the Rev. John Hunt.
Biodiversity Values
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Fijian Ground Frog (Chris Denny )
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The proposal to eradicate cane toads (Bufo marinus) and invasive mammals (rats, cats and dogs) from Viwa Island, in Fiji, is viewed nationally as a high priority. This is mainly to protect the Fijian ground frog (Platymantis vitiana) (FGF) listed by the IUCN as endangered. This frog has been extirpated from most its range due to the arrival of introduced predators such as the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus ) and rats. Viwa is the smallest of the four islands with the Fijian ground frog and this population is thought to be threatened by the Pacific rat and the invasive cane toad. The latter is extremely abundant on Viwa (25,000+) and is likely to compete with the Fijian ground frog for food, as well as preying upon juvenile and adult Fijian ground frog’s. The removal of all invasive species from Viwa Island would benefit a range of other native species, including the banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus), Pacific boa (Candoia bibroni), and several species of gecko and skink.
Community Incentives
This is expected to have several socio-economic benefits to the people on Viwa Island. The benefits include an increased agricultural harvest, improved health and sanitation (domestic water supply and disposal), ecotourism & employment opportunities, and finally cultural pride for Viwa Island. The people of Viwa have given their permission to proceed with the eradication work and their ongoing support is expected provided the islanders continue to be consulted and involved in every step of this process.
Project Description
The Viwa Stakeholder Committee (made up of local people, government officials and eradication experts) decided the mammal pest eradication should be conducted first with progress carefully monitored as the operation proceeds. During the mammal eradication, cane toad eradication techniques will be tested and refined. The mammalian eradication operation will help demonstrate eradication techniques to the villagers and will determine if the island eradication team can maintain a long-term eradication project around day-to-day village life and tasks. It will also remove any of potential interference of Pacific rats (Rattus exulans), cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis lupus) from the cane toad eradication (click here to download the Viwa Project Plan).
The University of the South Pacific are implementing this project and Joape Kuruyawa has been employed as the full-time project manager. Joape was the winner of the BP Conservation Gold Award in 2003 for his teams work on the Fijian ground frog on Gau, Taveuni, Ovalau and Viwa.
Technical and logistical assistance has been provided by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. The project was officially launched on Viwa Island on the 14th Nov 2005.
Dogs have already been removed from Viwa. Please click on ‘Removal of feral dogs Canis familiaris by befriending them, Viwa Island, Fiji’ for further information.
The rat eradication became operational in June 2006. Indications are that the Pacific rat has been eradicated. This will be confirmed after 2 years of monitoring.
Funding
This project has been funded through the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the Australian Regional Natural Heritage Programme (RNHP). The New Zealand International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID) has supported the initiation and development of the Viwa project.
For Further Information Contact
Craig Morley – Project Coordinator ( morley_c@usp.ac.fj)
Joape Kuruyawa – Project Manager ( joape_kuruyawa@hotmail.com)
Bill Nagle – PII contact (w.nagle@auckland.ac.nz )
Last updated 21 May 2008 |
