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

is currently used as a picnic spot by the residents of Makogai Island. The vegetation
is relatively undisturbed, in particular after feral goats were removed from the island
about a decade ago by personnel working at the Fisheries field station on Makogai
Island. There has been no major activity undertaken on Makodraga Island in recent
years.
Makodraga and Makogai Islands, under the Birds and Game Protection Act, are the
only two islands in the Fiji archipelago that are completely reserved areas in respect
of all game. The conservation status for Makodraga looks promising as it comes under
the ownership of the government.
The purpose of this survey is to determine if the Island of Makodraga has the potential
to be a translocation site for the Yadua Taba Crested Iguana population. The Yadua
Taba Island Crested Iguana population has been restored to viable numbers over the
last 30 years. Despite the re-establishment of this yet increasing population, the risk
of losing the species to extinction remains high, this becomes more critical with the
recent findings of genetic variation between islands. While most of these other
islands are inhabited and/or currently used for recreational purposes by landowners,
Yadua Taba Island remains the only safe haven for the species. The current total
population, though substantial, is still vulnerable being concentrated on only one
island. Therefore, the need for translocation of the Yadua Taba island Crested Iguana
population to a conservation site is critical, but in avoidance of cross-breeding with
other populations and more so with other iguana species.
The survey team comprised the following personnel - Marika Tuiwawa (South Pacific
Regional Herbarium, USP), Isaac Rounds (Conservation International), Jone Niukula
(National Trust Fiji), Saras Sharma (Fiji Department Fisheries) & Nunia Thomas
(NatureFiji/Mareqeti/Viti).
Methods
Opportunistic fauna and floral surveys were conducted from Saturday 31 st October to
Sunday 1 st November 2008 on the island of Makodraga next to Makogai Island. The
surveys were conducted by walking through and across the island (in the forest),
along the coastal forest; and around the island by boat.
In addition a brief summary on the result of a Crested Iguana survey by Peter Harlow
and Rob Fischer in February 2010 will be highlighted in the Herpetofauna section.
Results
Herpetofauna
Opportunistic diurnal herpetofauna surveys were conducted from 11am to 3pm on
two days (31/10/09 and 01/11/09). The presence of known plants of importance to
the diet of Fiji’s native iguanas was noted; and their locations recorded. Geographical
Positioning Systems (GPS) data of potential iguana breeding sites were recorded
using a Thales Mobile Mapper TM . One targeted nocturnal survey for iguanas was
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