Vol 3 Land Resource Inventory Report - Department of Environment ...

3.7.1 CONSERVATION AREAS
Conserved areas are areas of natural forest to be maintained in an undisturbed natural
condition and for the preservation of specific biological values (Ministry of Forestry, 2010d:
2). It includes the Forestry Department Nature Reserves, other legally established reserved
and other areas of known unique, rare or consideration for formal preservation (Ministry of
Forestry, 2010d: 2). This includes the formal proposals or recommendations for World
Heritage, Nature Reserves or National Park Status (Ministry of Forestry, 2010d: 2).
3.7.2 MANGROVES
Mangroves stand in the shallow saltwater with propped up long, spindly roots sunk into the
seabed (Joyce, 2007). According to Jennifer Hoffman (a marine biologist), mangroves live at
a particular zone, that is, between ocean and land. Notably, even though the mangroves are
used to living in such a condition, they can still be drown if the water level gets too high or if
the water becomes too salty (Joyce, 2007). Mangrove areas were originally classified as
conserved areas because of their high biological diversity, national and international
importance (Ministry of Forestry, 2010d: 2). Table 3.6 shows Special Forest Resource
Assessment 2010 categories.
Table 3.6: Special Forest Resource Assessment 2010 Categories
FRA 2010 Categories Area (1000 hectares)
1990 2000 2005 2010
Rubber plantations 0 0 0 0
Mangroves (Forest and OWL) 86.908 100.192 107.904 115.62
Bamboo (Forest and OWL) 0 0 0 0
(Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010)
Table 3.6 shows Special Forest Resource Assessment 2010 categories. Table 3.6 shows that
‗Mangroves‘ were 86.908 hectares in 1990, 100.192 hectares in 2000, 107.904 hectares in
2005 and 115.62 hectares in 2010.
3.8 PLANTATION FORESTS
Plantation forests are man made forests, established for the production of industrial wood
includes all Mahogany and pine plantations. Table 3.7 shows areas of various forests types in
Fiji based on National Classes.
Table 3.7: Areas of Various Forests Types in Fiji Based on National Classes
National Classes Forest (1000 hectares)
1990 2000 2005
Production Forests 85.716 116.957 132.578
Protection Forests 304.200 304.200 304.200
Preserved Forests 68.800 68.880 88.800
Multiple Use Forests 465.701 501.233 498.999
Total 924 991 1,025
(Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010)
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