Resource Management

The Unit previously known as the Conservation Unit is responsible for managing and also oversees programmes related to Conservation and Sustainable use of Natural Resources. The functions of the Unit as defined on the Environment Management Act 2005 are:

• To formulate and review the Natural Resource Inventory after consulting any interested person
• To formulate, implement, monitor and review the National Resource Management Plan in the prescribed manner
• To coordinate natural resource management activities
• To maintain a natural resource information database, and
• To advise the person or body authorized under a written law to issue permits and approvals for resource use activities within the National Resource Management Plan

The unit is also responsible for the implementation of three International Conventions namely:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
• The Ramsar Convention or the Convention on Wetlands.

Each Convention has its own committee and working groups to administer the different requirements under the Convention.

The Unit ensures that current activities that involve the environment in Fiji such as development and coral extraction are done in a sustainable manner. Moreover, the Unit continues to liaise with the other government and non-government counterparts on this regard.