Future and Our Role

             From the research I have conducted, in my opinion, I believe the future for the tropical dry forests of Fiji does not look very bright. I have come to this conclusion because there is very limited research on these forests, and they have already been deemed critically endangered. I could very well see these tropical dry forests being extinct in Fiji within the next two decades.

          Some methods are already in place to help the preservation of the forests. One already set in place is by WWF's Forests, Marine, and Freshwater who developed the WWF Fiji Forestry Programme, which taught locals the skills they need for survival while also protecting and preserving the endagered vesi tree.

           There is only one location that is protected which leaves all other tropical dry forests sites in Fiji vulnerable to fire, grazing, and invasion of non-native species. Special attention needs to be given to the island of Viti Levu which has the highest species richness and endemism of all native forests.

              But what I believe our number one priority should be is that more research needs to be done on these tropical dry forests. We need to identify and create an inventory of all the locations of these forests and manage them before they disappear. Only by raising awareness and gathering research regarding these dry forests, can we truly take the first step towards their preservation.

Dr. Gillespie and his team in Fiji researching Tropical Dry Forests