The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in partnership with NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, today commenced its Northern Division consultations for Fiji’s Seventh National Report (7NR) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), bringing together government agencies, provincial representatives, resource owners, civil society organisations, academia and development partners in Labasa.
The consultations form part of a nationwide effort to gather stakeholder input and validate information that will contribute to Fiji’s Seventh National Report and help assess the country’s progress in conserving biodiversity and implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Participants were reminded that Fiji’s biodiversity is central to the nation’s food security, water resources, climate resilience, cultural heritage and economic development.
The Northern Division is unique as it is home to some of Fiji’s most significant biodiversity areas, including extensive forests, critical watersheds, freshwater systems, mangrove ecosystems and marine habitats that support both local communities and globally significant species.
The consultation provides an opportunity for local experiences, traditional knowledge and community-led conservation initiatives to be reflected in Fiji’s national reporting process and future biodiversity planning.
The Ministry stressed that biodiversity conservation cannot be achieved by the government alone and requires strong partnerships with communities, traditional resource owners, resource users, civil society organisations, the private sector, academic institutions and development partners.
Information gathered during the consultations will contribute to the implementation of Fiji’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026–2030 and help measure progress towards global biodiversity targets, including the goal of effectively conserving and managing at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030.
The Northern Division consultations begin in Labasa today and will continue in Savusavu tomorrow (16.06.26) before concluding in Taveuni (18.06.26), ensuring stakeholders across Vanua Levu and surrounding islands have an opportunity to contribute to the national reporting process.
The Ministry encourages participants to actively share their experiences, challenges and recommendations to help strengthen Fiji’s biodiversity conservation efforts and ensure the Seventh National Report reflects the realities and achievements on the ground.