3 October 2025, Suva, Fiji – Fiji’s land management system faces growing challenges such as pressure on water catchments and coastal areas, conflicting land uses across sectors, gaps in environmental accountability, and the impacts of climate change.
Recognising these issues, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) has begun work on a Natural Resource and Environmental Management Policy, with support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The recent workshop in Suva convened TLTB executive and staff across all their divisions and locations across Fiji, to address these challenges. In his opening remarks, TLTB Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Solomoni Nata underscored the importance of an environmental policy that reflects the interconnected nature of land, water, and community wellbeing.
“This environmental policy is important to TLTB because it affects the people and their resources. We need to start thinking about the whole water catchment and how leases and activities affect other communities and the qoliqoli,” Mr. Nata said.
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He added that TLTB is working toward practical tools to hold lessees accountable. “We are developing a template to better assess damages to an area done by irresponsible lessees, and to create fairer compensation systems for landowners.”
The workshop focused on three key objectives, which include the review of legal frameworks governing land leases and identifying policy gaps; co-designing a vision, mission, and goals for the new environmental policy; and mapping priority areas and sector challenges from agriculture and mining to tourism and urban development to ensure the policy is practical and transformative.
SPREP’s Director of Biodiversity Conservation Programme and Fiji Office, Mr. Amena Yauvoli emphasised the regional importance of this work.
“When land leases are guided by a strong environmental policy, they can secure clean water, fertile soils, forests, reefs, and fisheries – the very foundations of resilience and prosperity for our people. This work is pioneering, not only for Fiji but for the Pacific as a whole.”
Facilitated by Talanoa Consulting, participants engaged in interactive sessions, including a “World Café” exercise, to identify cross-cutting concerns such as downstream impacts of development, sector conflicts, and the integration of climate change.
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Next steps include drafting the new policy, seeking expert input, and convening a stakeholder workshop in October. SPREP reaffirmed its support through the Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) Project funded by the New Zealand Government, and the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) Project funded by Kiwa Initiative and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM).
“This forward-looking approach strengthens the enduring values of iTaukei land, ensuring it continues to provide for people, culture, and ecosystems for generations to come,” said Mr. Yauvoli.
Held at the Tanoa Plaza on 17 September 2025, the workshop closed with a call for collective responsibility and optimism that the forthcoming policy will not only protect Fiji’s natural heritage but also serve as a model for the wider Pacific.
For more information, contact:
Setaita Tavanabola, PEBACC+ Communications Officer, SPREP; email: [email protected]