Fiji has once again reaffirmed its leadership in global environmental action, with Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mosese Bulitavu, representing the nation at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking at a high-level session on “Reorienting Sectoral Public Policies Towards Better Productive Practices: Integrating Biodiversity,” Bulitavu emphasized that for small island developing states (SIDS) like Fiji, biodiversity is the foundation of resilience, livelihoods, and cultural identity.

He called for stronger policy integration, urging governments to embed biodiversity values into all sectors of national planning and economic development.

Highlighting Fiji’s progress, Bulitavu shared the nation’s achievements under the BIODEV2030 Project, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) and implemented by IUCN Oceania.

The project aligns national efforts with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, addressing threats from unsustainable agricultural and coastal practices.

Among Fiji’s key policy measures are:

• Revision of the Kava Bill to include environmental safeguards;
• Sustainability incentives for farmers, such as certification and eco-linked subsidies;
• Enhancements to the Draft Inshore Fisheries Decree for improved marine protection; and
• Stronger community engagement and enforcement through support for local fish wardens.

“Our economic activities must no longer simply extract from nature they must enrich it. The future of our people and our planet depends on our ability to integrate biodiversity into every decision we make,” said Bulitavu.

He reaffirmed that Fiji’s environmental approach is built on partnerships uniting traditional knowledge, modern science, and sound policy to create sustainable, lasting solutions for both people and nature.