Fiji only has two sites designated as wetlands of International Importance, also known as Ramsar sites.
This was revealed by Environment Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy at yesterday’s World Wetlands Day celebration at Naidiri Village in Sigatoka.
He said the Upper Navua Conservation Area (UNCA) and Qoliqoli Cokovata located in the Macuata Province were the two Ramsar sites in Fiji.
“The UNCA contains a remarkable count of Fiji’s native and endemic species of flora and fauna that includes 29 species of plants, 13 species of freshwater vertebrates, 35 species of birds, four species of mammals, 15 species of invertebrates.
The Qoliqoli Cokovata, our second Ramsar site, has an extensive barrier reef system of 260km in length and is also the third continuous barrier reef system in the world and contains a network of a wide range of coral reef forms.”
Dr Reddy said the ministry was working with partners to identify and designate two new Ramsar sites.
