Fiji’s ‘Garden of Eden’

Listen to this article:

Fiji’s ‘Garden of Eden’

TUCKED away in the Southern tip of Taveuni, the Nabogiono Farm is a family-owned heritage property and is literally the ‘Garden of Eden’.

The property comprises a freehold property of more than 40 hectares of land reverberating with the calls of wild birds and surrounded by trees that almost look like ancient structures.

Initially used for coconut farming until 1978, the farm has since been conserved by the owning family as a natural habitat for wildlife, while continuing to be run as a farm.

Owner Bobby Shankaran resides on the property, in a colonial designed home aged more than 70 years, made from timber and concrete bordered neatly by flowers.

Nabogiono comprises 400 metres of sea frontage, 10 hectares of jungle regrowth around the homestead, a rich natural habitat for the birds, and about 17 hectares of farming area.

Mr Shankaran said integrated farming management was practised on the farm.

He said the agriculture practices used on the farm included agroforestry, traditional medicinal plants, tropical fruit trees and native forest trees and plants.

“The farm is broken into three sections comprising a section of coconut palms, fruit frees, and yaqona and dalo (traditional field crops). Another section of coconut palms for green fuel wood trees, yaqona and dalo; and the balance of the area (about 13 hectares) comprises tropical virgin rainforest,” Mr Shankaran said.

“A wide range of seasonal fruit trees, 35 varieties, produce seeds which are collected for local distribution.

“Another similarly broad collection of traditional medicinal plants are grown which are necessary for traditional medicinal practices.

“The farm actively preserves traditional knowledge and demonstrates this to all visitors, in particular to the young people of Fiji.”

Mr Shankaran said the land managers hoped to inculcate the ecological biodiversity values and to demonstrate good husbandry practices and sustainable farming.

“Preserving the pristine natural tropical rainforest is important for ecosystem stability and balance,” he said.

“The property maintains nature and wildlife by conserving the natural habitat and preventing further development so there is no disturbance in the natural balance.

“More than 20 species of birds including the rare and iconic orange dove as well as fruit bats depend upon this rainforest.

“We are currently working with the National Trust of Fiji and hope to establish a ‘ridge to reef’ conservation park to further protect the natural environment.”

Mr Shankaran said it was a vision of the farm to protect the ecological value of the property’s natural resources and to educate others of this value.

“Nabogiono Farm and the National Trust of Fiji hope to encourage the people on Taveuni and beyond to value the importance of preserving and nurturing these natural resources for all time,” he said.

“We would also like to increase awareness of the practical importance of medicinal plants which are readily available in Fiji.

“Employment opportunities are created here which helps to improve the standard of living for those employed, and the communities which they support. Education is important for the protection of the forest and sustainability of the farm.”

Mr Shankaran said the farm was undertaking awareness programs with schools and national tertiary institutions to promote the importance of maintaining biodiversity.

“Schools can take advantage of what is conserved here for educational purposes, and students are encouraged to use this property for research on native plants, medicinal plants, birds and animals,” he said.

“The aim is to establish a small library and an information/resource facility to assist this research by students. The Nabogiono Farm receives visitors from all over the world, although not in large numbers — based on comments in the visitors’ book, all are most impressed.

“This form of eco-tourism meets a market need and also adds to Fiji’s diversity as a visitor destination.”

Mr Shankaran said the process it demonstrated to Fiji’s people was the economic value of eco-tourism in which an increasing number of tourists were interested, many of whom wanted to experience more than the traditional sea, reefs and beaches, which have long been the natural resources hallmark of the nation’s tourism sector.

“The National Trust of Fiji hopes that the Nabogiono Farm will assist awareness programs for personnel from relevant government ministries and other organisations on the importance of sustainable farming integrated with best practice conservation methods,” he said.

“Taveuni is a quite special island for several reasons, in addition to its natural beauty. First, it is crossed by the 180th meridian of longitude which used to serve as the dateline and therefore the original start of each day.

“While only 40 kilometres long and an average of 12km wide, it is also one of the wettest places on earth.

“Up on the cloud-covered high central ridge which reaches more than 1200 metres in elevation, annual rainfalls of more than 12,000 mm have been recorded here.”

Mr Shankaran said much of the island was covered in dense rainforest although there was a significant agricultural sector based on the very rich volcanic soils.

“Not surprisingly, Taveuni is often referred to as Fiji’s Garden Island,” he said.

“On the steep weather coast some 15 major streams which drain this elevated wet forested area, plunge directly into the ocean as waterfalls — this has been taken advantage of in the past by large ocean-going vessels, in order to collect fresh water directly off the deck from a waterfall during calm conditions only.”