Landowners lead the way in biodiversity finance solutions

Seventy landowners have contributed to Fiji’s broader effort to close the biodiversity finance gap through inclusive and sustainable approaches during their participation in a recent workshop.

The landowners, from Kalokolevu (Rewa), Nabukelevu (Serua), and Naidiri (Nadroga), attended a biodiversity finance community consultation workshop organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji. The event was held at Naviti Resort in Sigatoka.

The three-day workshop focused on co-designing solutions that reflect landowners’ priorities and realities, with organisers aiming to ensure that biodiversity finance directly strengthens livelihoods, resilience, and the wellbeing of families and future generations.

Permanent secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael, commended the communities for their leadership.

“Aligning biodiversity protection with sustainable finance isn’t just good policy, it’s a model for the future,” Mr Michael said.

The landowners’ insights helped shape site-specific action plans, including native tree conservation in Kalokolevu, coral restoration in Naidiri, and riverine and forest conservation in Nabukelevu/Upper Navua.

UNDP emphasised that implementation will be grounded in cultural values, gender and youth inclusion, and equitable benefit-sharing. The collective aim is to translate national ambition and global commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into concrete, fundable outcomes on the ground.

UNDP also acknowledged the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and its government partners, including the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and its boards.