Fiji Islands are among the most dynamic economies in the South Pacific, with rapid changes on infrastructure and industrial developments, tourism and commercial agriculture; even though they often come alongside environmental impacts on endemic biota and ecosystems that are not well understood, not much is invested on research to plan a sustainable use of land. Parallel unsolved concerns are land tenure issues in which ancestral community ownership coexists with modern markets; tensions over land leases between ethnical groups and high population growth trigger land use intensification, and rise of emigrations, of landlessness, of unemployment and finally of poverty. Therefore, it is of a national interest to asses these trends for long term sustainable land use planning; even nearly 3500 years ago a record of regulations aimed to achieve sustainability and equality: “3 …for six years you may plant crops inyour fields, prune your vineyards, and gather what they produce. 4 But during the seventh year, you must let the land rest. 8 Count seven of these years seven times for a total of 49 years... during that time there will be seven ·years of rest 9 and proclaim liberty to everyone living in the land... everyone is to return to their own property” (Leviticus 25).
In this document, the first chapter is a synopsis of land use in the rural areas of Fiji islands, its evolution, types, problems and alternatives, the second chapter is a review of some common free gis packages available in the internet useful for forestry and land use evaluations, their number and degrees of sophistication are ever growing; the last two chapters are applications, first on detecting the severity of land use intensity in relation to other socioeconomic parameters, and second on the planning of the best places for planting trees of economic or ecological importance. The articles were presented at international conferences, they are in no way a comprehensive treatise on the subject; my main purpose is to ignite the interest of students and staff working in the forestry field to try on and propose projects of various types, scales and complexity, with just a standard PC and access to internet and library resources.
Table of Contents
A synthesis on land use changes and agroforestry in Fiji Islands
Alternatives on GIS&RS for forestry applications in the Pacific Islands
Socioeconomic drivers of shifting cultivation in Fiji Islands: a geographical
Land suitability for the plantation of important tree species in Vitilevu Island, Fiji
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this publication is to synthesize knowledge regarding land use sustainability, forestry applications, and socioeconomic drivers in the Fiji Islands. It explores the historical evolution of agricultural practices, the integration of agroforestry as a sustainable alternative, and the application of GIS and remote sensing tools for forestry management. The research aims to provide a basis for informed decision-making in land use planning, addressing challenges such as soil degradation, land tenure issues, and the need for long-term sustainable development programs.
- Evolution and current status of land use and agroforestry systems in Fiji.
- Evaluation of open-source GIS and remote sensing software for forestry training.
- Geographical analysis of socioeconomic drivers of shifting cultivation.
- Land suitability modeling for the plantation of native and exotic tree species.
- Recommendations for future agricultural policies and land management strategies.
Excerpt from the book
1.0 Introduction
Agroforestry is defined as the deliberate incorporation of trees into, or protection of trees within, an agro ecosystem in order to ensure its short and long term productivity, cultural utility, and ecological stability (Thaman and Clarke 1990). Agroforestry systems incorporate new economic opportunities with different benefits, markets, and production risks than commodity farming (Gold et al. 2004), serving as a model for integrative land use management systems currently being developed in response to global concerns.
The prospects for regular availability of tree products can also reduce farmers‘ risk in the event of crop failures. Forty years ago they started to be promoted by western aid organizations working on marginal lands, a decade later low intensity indigenous cultivation systems were adopted and new criteria were identified for successful land use management strategies after decades of environmental damage (Turner 1980). Today, sustainability, stability and equality are as important as efficiency on agricultural production and yield optimization of timber different products and uses (Garret and McGraw 2000). Future concerns focus on fossil fuels substitution. The article discusses the historical, geographical and socioeconomic background of Fiji Islands to recommend directions on research and development of agroforestry systems.
Summary of Chapters
A synthesis on land use changes and agroforestry in Fiji Islands: This chapter provides an overview of the history and current state of land use in Fiji, highlighting the potential of agroforestry to address environmental and economic challenges.
Alternatives on GIS&RS for forestry applications in the Pacific Islands: This section reviews various open-source software tools available for geographic information systems and remote sensing, assessing their suitability for forestry education and research in the region.
Socioeconomic drivers of shifting cultivation in Fiji Islands: a geographical: This chapter examines the relationship between socioeconomic parameters and land use intensity, utilizing GIS models to identify drivers of shifting cultivation.
Land suitability for the plantation of important tree species in Vitilevu Island, Fiji: The final chapter presents a spatial model to identify optimal areas for planting eleven specific native and exotic tree species, offering guidance for reforestation efforts.
Keywords
Agroforestry, Fiji Islands, Land use change, GIS, Remote sensing, Forestry, Shifting cultivation, Socioeconomic drivers, Soil degradation, Sustainable land management, Tree plantation, Spatial modeling, Land suitability, Land tenure, Agricultural development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on modeling land use sustainability in the Fiji Islands, providing a scientific basis for better land management and agricultural planning through agroforestry and GIS applications.
Which thematic areas are covered?
The publication covers land use history, agroforestry practices, the utility of open-source GIS software for forestry, the socioeconomic drivers of shifting cultivation, and land suitability mapping for tree plantations.
What is the primary goal of the research presented?
The goal is to ignite interest among students and staff in forestry fields to propose and execute sustainable projects using accessible digital tools and to support policymakers in long-term land planning.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The research employs spatial data analysis, GIS-based land suitability modeling, boolean operations for identifying optimal planting areas, and the compilation of statistical data from national censuses.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats the historical evolution of Fiji's agriculture, compares various GIS software packages (GRASS, QGIS, MapServer, SAGA), and presents empirical studies on how population and economic factors drive land use intensity.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include Agroforestry, Fiji Islands, Land use change, GIS, Remote sensing, Forestry, Shifting cultivation, and Sustainable land management.
How does the land suitability model work?
The model uses ecological requirements of specific tree species (altitude, rainfall, forest cover) and applies boolean logic in GIS to map areas where those conditions are satisfied.
What is the author's conclusion regarding Fiji's forestry strategy?
The author concludes that a "multi-GIS use strategy" is advisable in undergraduate curricula and that future land policies must balance economic needs with ecological stewardship and more transparent land rights.
- Citar trabajo
- David Lopez Cornelio (Autor), 2017, Modeling land use sustainability in Fiji Islands, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/351842
