Integrated Ecosystem Management Plan Launched to Strengthen Navua Catchment and Beqa Lagoon

A plan to strengthen the health and resilience of the Navua catchment and Beqa lagoon was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) on July 22, 2025. The Integrated Ecosystem Management Plan (IEMP) aims to improve the livelihoods of people living in these areas, focusing on science-based management that incorporates traditional knowledge and local priorities.

The plan was developed in consultation with 162 individuals from 52 communities in the Namosi, Serua, and Rewa provinces. It recognizes that upstream activities can impact residents downstream and in Beqa Lagoon. The Navua River catchment drains 1387 km2 from the Namosi highlands to the mouth of the Navua River and into Beqa Lagoon, emphasizing the need for a connected ecosystem approach. The IEMP identifies interventions to reduce climate risk and build community capacity to withstand floods, erosion, saline intrusion, and biodiversity loss, such as riparian buffer restoration, mangrove protection, watershed rehabilitation, and establishment of protected areas.

Key Takeaways:

• The Integrated Ecosystem Management Plan (IEMP) is a science-based management tool that incorporates traditional knowledge and local priorities to strengthen the health and resilience of the Navua catchment and Beqa lagoon.
• The plan was developed in consultation with 162 individuals from 52 communities in the Namosi, Serua, and Rewa provinces.
• The IEMP recognizes that upstream activities can impact residents downstream and in Beqa Lagoon, highlighting the need for a connected ecosystem approach.
• The plan identifies interventions to reduce climate risk and build community capacity to withstand floods, erosion, saline intrusion, and biodiversity loss.
• Nature-based solutions, such as restoring forest habitats, protecting biodiversity, and working with local communities, are key components of the IEMP.
• The plan equips communities with maps, data, and tools to engage confidently with government and developers, safeguarding both ecosystems and livelihoods.
• The SPREP's By-catch and Integrated Ecosystem Management (BIEM) Initiative, funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden, supports the development of the IEMP.
• Representatives from the Namosi, Serua, and Rewa provinces shared their experiences in using nature-based solutions to improve ecosystem resilience.
• Tree planting and revegetation activities are seen as significant factors in improving biodiversity and reducing soil erosion.
• The rapid biological assessment conducted as part of the IEMP process identified a reduction in ecosystem function and biodiversity in the catchment and the Beqa lagoon.

Statistics:

• The Navua River catchment drains 1387 km2 from the Namosi highlands to the mouth of the Navua River and into Beqa Lagoon.
• 162 individuals from 52 communities in the Namosi, Serua, and Rewa provinces were consulted during the development of the IEMP.
• 7 years of support from the European Union and the Government of Sweden through the PEUMP Programme has been crucial in driving the development of the IEMP.
• The PEUMP Programme has provided direct assistance to regional organisations to support regional and national level activities in the Pacific.
• The program addresses critical challenges in the region, including the depletion of coastal fisheries resources, the threat to marine biodiversity, and the need for improved education and training in the fisheries sector.

Sources:

• Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
• Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
• By-catch and Integrated Ecosystem Management (BIEM) Initiative
• Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme
• European Union
• Government of Sweden
• Delegation of the European Union to the Pacific