- green-spots
- reforestation
- Fiji
- Drawa rainforest conservation project
Problems
The local indigenous rainforest communities in Fiji predominantly rely on subsistence agriculture, cash cropping, and the extraction of timber and non-timber forest products for domestic use. In the communities without access to commercial agriculture, commercial logging of timber is one of the few reliable income sources. Therefore, deforestation poses a serious threat to the rainforest in the project area. Deforestation contributes to the high percentage of global annual greenhouse gas emissions already caused by rainforest loss. Moreover, deforestation threatens an especially biodiverse ecosystem that provides habitats for endangered and endemic species such as the Fiji Ground Frog. In addition, the threatened ecosystem plays a key role in protecting the local population from natural disasters such as cyclones, floods and droughts.
Solutions
Drawa Rainforest Carbon Project
Author: My Climate
The Drawa Forest Project is an initiative that enables indigenous peoples in Fiji to forgo commercial logging and save their forests. The project covers 4,120ha of tropical rainforest of 450 indigenous people in three villages in Fiji. Protecting the rainforest will have three important benefits: it will ensure carbon sequestration and conserve biodiversity. Second, it reduces the population's vulnerability to extreme weather events. Third, the project protects watersheds to maintain a healthy river system and provide high-quality drinking water. In order to generate these benefits, the project developed alternative income sources for the landowners while simultaneously improving the population's well-being. A Forest Community Cooperative was formed and receives management and capacity-building support. The strengthened community governance allowed the establishment of community businesses such as producing and selling rainforest honey. Women are involved in decision-making and also benefit from alternative livelihood activities. The conserved forest protects villages from cyclones, floods and droughts and provides clean water for the Drawa people and other communities that rely on streams flowing from the rainforests. The income from the sale of carbon credits has helped set up improved water and sanitation facilities and other building projects across five villages in the region. One of the key priorities of the project is to set up honey production and agroforestry enterprises and invest in essential community infrastructure that improves access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities. Moreover, infrastructure is improved. One example is the construction of a new water source for the village. It replaces the former source, which had been destroyed by flooding during the cyclone Winston. The protected rainforest area will be actively managed according to a conservation plan and monitored to ensure it remains protected. The project methodology framework for this programme was developed with European Union and GIZ funds and is managed by a local non-profit organization. In recognition of its success, the project won the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Award for Excellence in Implementing Island Ecosystem Management Principles in 2015 and the International Energy Globe Award for Fiji in 2020.
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Timelines
2011
The Drawa project site was selected in August 2011, and project development activities were undertaken in close collaboration with the indigenous landowners from eight Drawa Block clans (mataqali), whom reside within 5 villages within and surrounding the project area.
2012
The Drawa Rainforest Conservation Project officially began. The project aims to protect 4,144 hectares of forest area on Vanua Levu, the second-largest island in Fiji. The project area belongs to eight mataqali, or Fijian clans, who formed the Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative, which helped establish a protected area through a conservation lease to carry out improved forest management practices.
2016
The first report outlined the project management, governance and carbon accounting and monitoring systems that had been put in place and provided the first assertion of greenhouse gas abatement achieved by the project through forest protection. The independent auditor and Plan Vivo determined that the project met all certification standards. However, the final verification was held off until the project could formally receive formal approval from the Fiji Government.
2019
The project received endorsement from the National REDD+ Steering Committee and validation under the international Plan Vivo Standard. The project also started selling its remaining carbon credits through auctions organized by Plan Vivo Foundation.
2020
For its efforts in sustainability and conservation, the Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative received an Energy Globe Award for Fiji. With more than 180 participating countries, the Energy Globe Award is a prestigious environmental award given annually to projects saving our environment.
2021
The project sold the Plan Vivo Foundation another 1,000 tonnes of carbon credits. The project also continued implementing alternative livelihood activities such as beekeeping.
2024
The Drawa Rainforest Conservation Project in Fiji continued its successful model of community-led forest protection through carbon credits, expanding its crediting area by over 2,500 hectares and conducting forest inventories, while generating income for improved sanitation, women's enterprises (like honey production), and community infrastructure, demonstrating sustainable conservation and economic benefits, supported by the Nakau Programme and partners. Rangers conducted inventory work and expanded the project's crediting area by an additional 2,500+ hectares, moving towards Plan Vivo Climate Standard 5. Revenue from carbon credit sales funded improved toilets, sanitation, and building projects in local villages, alongside growing honey and agroforestry enterprises. The project fostered women's groups and economic autonomy, transforming perspectives on forest value. The Nakau Programme, in collaboration with Live and Learn Environmental Education, supported these efforts under the Climate Resilient by Nature initiative. The Drawa project forest protection and economic development, protecting watersheds, preventing natural disasters, and generating income through carbon credits.
