Forests cover around 30% of the land's surface according to NASA but they are under threat from a variety of human activities. The conversion of forests into agricultural plantations is a major cause of deforestation. While Fiji's conservation efforts are not yet adequate, the Fijian government has taken steps toward improvement. Land rights have been a serious issue in domestic politics, and indigenous people often clash with the government over the state of forested regions and how the revenues gained will be distributed.
environment have been heavily debated for a long time; particularly over the In it, the government defined the principles of ecotourism and stated the need to expand both ecotourism and village-based tourism, with sustainability as a key principal. Some of these challenges include: loss of biodiversity, the destruction of forest- based societies and climatic disruption. Fiji’s military leader and Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, BBCEnvironmental planning has been plagued with fragmentation , a lack of funding, and is often times outdated. The removal of forested regions continued even after colonization ended; as Fiji's population grew and the need for economic development became more salient, dry forest was cut down for agricultural expansion, logging and urban development. According to the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio Janeiro, biodiversity may be defined as, “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other... was in the mid-1800s that forests began to be destroyed at an unprecedented rate. Ads by Google Fiji's government is highly centralized, exercising a top-down form of governance. mass over the world. Causes of deforestation.
While they can be beneficial for clearing scrub, the increasing numbers of goats in Fiji have sometimes resulted in overgrazing, altering plants, forest structure and habitat for other animals. Their national environmental policy states that, "Maintenance of Fiji's healthy environment through protection and conservation of its unique features, and the judicious utilization of its resources form an integral part of development". The increase in global demand for commodities, such as palm oil and soybeans, are driving industrial-scale producers to clear forests at an alarming rate. Typically, deforestation is clearing a lot of trees without the intention of establishing future growth. However, with the exception of Yadua Taba, none of the remaining dry forest areas are protected in reserves and there is a danger that these areas will be completely destroyed, through fire or clearing, before any effort is made to survey or save them. A few small patches of dry forest remain on Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, Yaduataba Island, and on small islands in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Groups, complicating conservation efforts. These pine forests can host invasive species and are no substitute for the once developed dry forest. So deforesting them will cause local and global into less bio-diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland, or plantations. Instead, the goat (Goats are herbivores that can consume a great variety of plants. last few years. Trees are one of the most important aspects of the planet we live in. The forests became even further degraded with British colonization, as land was cleared for commercial agriculture, with an emphasis on sugar cane production. Unfortunately, Fiji has had a tumultuous political past since gaining independence from Britain in 1970. Fiji's tropical dry forests have come into conflict with the increasing numbers of livestock, including goats and sheep. Therefore, the causes and Effects of Deforestation The subject of deforestation and the effects that it has on the environment have been heavily debated for a long time; particularly over the last few years. Most of Fiji’s conservation efforts have been put toward preserving the rainforest, coral reefs, and beaches, while the dry forest for the most part has been neglected. However, this means that the government has a central bias, often with limited funds to visit the over 100 inhabited islands.