The third lesson learned is that collaborations and
partnerships are essential for the development of species
recovery plans that benefit all stakeholders and subsequently
increase the likelihood of successful species conservation.
One of the more serious issues confronting
NFMV when it initiated the conservation campaign was
whether to pursue a complete ban on both thatch or palm
heart harvesting of Soga, or whether to pursue a sustainable
harvesting approach. NFMV after discussions with some
stakeholders decided to pursue the sustainable harvesting
approach in the belief that landowners would understand
and respond to the situation and that the main users, the
tourism industry, would quickly respond positively. However,
the current situation is that unless the estimated
FJ$3million/annum sago thatch industry is maintained
through sustainable harvesting and the extant Soga stands
restored, the industry will be completely lost within a decade and together with it, cash income opportunities for
approximately 300 participants, mainly women in rural
villages. Not all landowners have moved to take responsibility
for the management of their Soga, but the Serua
Provincial Authority has been bold and decisive in its
actions, with NFMV acting as a technical adviser.