A Sago palm information card has been produced to highlight the plight of the Fiji sago palm to Rivers Fiji white water rafters.
As part of ongoing Sago palm conservation efforts, we have produced an informational greeting card, which highlights the importance of the Fiji sago palm stand within the Upper Navua Conservation Area (UNCA) to tourists visting the site for white water rafting activities.
The Upper Navua Conservation Area (UNCA) is a 615 hectare land nestled in the highlands of Serua, and is recognized as Fiji’s only “Wetland of International Importance”, or Ramsar site. The UNCA is reported as becoming the site for the last natural stand of Fiji sago palms in Fiji. At this time, the UNCA is managed by Navua-based company, Rivers Fiji, that takes between 40-80 tourists on average per week for white water rafting activities in the Upper Navua gorge.
The dissemination of informational materials to overseas visitors, as well as to locals, may provide much needed support for the local efforts to protect this threatened palm. Rivers Fiji has offered to distribute the Sago palm informational cards to their clients at their Navua office.
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is grateful to Rivers Fiji for their assistance and support in the conservation efforts for the protection of the Sago palm.