Ecosystem‐Based Management Plan: Kubulau District, Vanua Levu, Fiji.

This Ecosystem‐Based Management Plan provides for the preservation of the functional integrity of Kubulau’s terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, coastal and marine ecosystems through community‐based management. The management plan is structured around several key components, beginning with a comprehensive description of the site that covers its boundaries, demographics, patterns of resource tenure and use, and the limits of any protected areas. It outlines the main management institutions and identifies relevant external stakeholders, while also explaining the roles and processes involved in preparing, implementing, amending, and reviewing the plan. The plan addresses compliance and enforcement by discussing how national laws and community rules will be upheld, and it examines habitat management across terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, coastal, and marine ecosystems. For each habitat, it provides detailed descriptions of flora and fauna, including endemic, endangered, and culturally or economically important species, along with an analysis of key threats and their underlying causes. It further recommends best management practices, specifies applicable rules and regulations, and proposes targeted management activities for each habitat. Finally, the plan considers sustainable financing mechanisms, including opportunities for self-financing, to ensure long-term viability.
In Kubulau, ecosystem-based management emphasizes the need for collaboration between upland and lowland communities, recognizing that ecosystems are interconnected and that activities in one area can affect others. It highlights the importance of maintaining connectivity across habitats to support species throughout their life cycles, while promoting sustainable land use and fishing practices to protect ecosystem resilience. The approach also underscores the link between environmental health, livelihoods, and public well-being, noting that healthy ecosystems support food security and disease prevention. Finally, it stresses that effective management depends on coordinated, cross-sectoral efforts among government agencies, partners, and local communities.