NatureFiji-MareqetiViti has the pleasure of publishing Director, Dr. Dick Watling’s, revamped edition of the “Mai Veikau: Tales of Fijian Wildlife”, a book that was originally published in 1986.

This little gem contains 32 short stories recounting local folklore and providing substantiating scientific background to these traditional myths. The book is beautifully illustrated in water colours and pencil art of the Fijian wildlife described within. Many of these stories were relayed to the author around the tanoa or dari.

Birds are by far Fiji’s most conspicuous form of terrestrial wildlife – they are inspirational, they sing, they are fairly easy to observe and identify, and there is a limited number of species. Biodiversity conservation in Fiji requires the support of landowners and the populace, who can better understand, participate in and support conservation if they are familiar with and knowledgeable about the species of concern. Fiji’s first ever State of Birds report ‘Fiji: State of Birds 2013’ has been prepared by NatureFiji-MareqetiViti with the assistance of the Department of the Environment and local ornithologists. The 44 page report provides an overview of the issues and critical considerations facing Fiji’s birds and emphasises how useful birds are as flagships for other elements of our biodiversity. Birds have long been used as indicators of the state of the world’s ecosystems, providing insights into habitat loss, deterioration, pollution and, increasingly, for climate change.