"SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATING WETLANDS INTO
MULTIPLE LAND USE PLANNING FRAMEWORKS COURSE"

• Mr. Isoa Tuwai, a Landuse Planner with the Research & Development Department of the Board is now back at work after attending the above course, held from the 7th to the 13th of July, 2002.
• The course was offered by the Center of Tropical Wetlands Management at the Northern Territory University in Darwin, Australia, under a government–funded program, the Asia Pacific Wetland Managers Training Program.
• The program forms part of Australia’s commitment to the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan and aims to provide wetland managers with the skills necessary to achieve wise use of wetlands.

The course main objectives were to:

1. Provide an introduction to a range of tools and mechanism for wetlands protection.
2. Discuss effective methods of engaging people in planning for wetlands conservation.
3. Identify the range of values in tropical wetlands and practical examples of managing threats.
4. Strengthen linkages between wetland managers in the Asia Pacific regions.

• Wetlands play a significant role in the livelihood of Fiji’s total population through food resources that are consumed in the rural areas and those that are sold to urban markets and outlets.
• Despite their importance, wetlands are becoming a vulnerable eco-system at the receiving end from both natural and human-induced impacts.
• The NLTB has been actively practising this intergrated management approach into some special/unique wetland sites whereby speciallease types with conditions have been issued and its main objectives were for:

1. Conservation purpose or to preserve the wetland site due to its uniqeness in terms of it’s biodiversity and nature.

Assist or sustain the community or landowning unit by getting them involved in the process of protecting the site by means of security and wise use of resources and at the same time build the site attractive for Tourism purposes, eg. Koroyanitu National Park/Rivers Fiji Limited.