Change detection of a coastal woodland mangrove forest in Fiji by integration of remote sensing with spatial mapping

Mangroves play key ecological role in structuring the availability of coastal resources. The current study was focused on change detection in a large mangrove patch located in Votua area of the Ba province in Fiji. Globally, the mangrove population continues to decline with the changes in climatic conditions and anthropo-genic activities. Baseline information through wetland maps and time series change are essential references for the development of effective mangrove management plans. These maps reveal the status of the resource over a period of time and the impacts from anthropogenic activities. Remote sensing techniques were integrated with geographic information system tools for mapping and detecting temporal change over a period of 20 years. Remotely sensed imagery data from Landsat satellite was sourced from the year 1999 to 2018 for this investigation. The mapping analysis of temporal changes in mangrove forests was carried using the versatile ArcGIS and ENVI software. The pilot change detection analysis revealed a small but important change in the mangrove patch over these years. Landward creep of mangroves was also detected. The outcomes of this study serve as baseline and conservation information for the development and implementation of effective management plans for one of Fiji’s largest mangrove patches

Climate change adaptation in Fiji : Local adaptation strategies to enhance national policy

As in other Pacific Island countries, coastal communities in Fiji face an urgent need to adapt to large-scale climate change risks, including sea level rise and extreme weather events. In response, Fijians are implementing adaptation strategies at various scales, from local to national. This study records current climate change adaptation strategies in three Indigenous Fijian (iTaukei) villages and compares them with Fiji's national adaptation strategies, identifying tensions and synergies between both scales. To bring the voices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities into the arena of climate change adaptation, the study used in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Fiji's 2018 National Adaptation Plan (NAP) was used to analyze national adaptation policies. The findings of the study revealed key synergies and gaps across 22 local and 160 national adaptation actions. The largest number of synergies were found in the areas of food and nutrition security, including adaptive changes within practiced livelihoods. The findings also revealed mismatches between adaptation measures at both scales. For example, local measures deviate from the NAP regarding reduced dependency on nature and reciprocity and sharing practices. Insights from this work may enlighten future interventions oriented to build the resilience of local communities. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Victoria Reyes-García; individual chapters, the contributors