Research Work in Fiji Islands and Samoa: Working with the Pacific Islanders †

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Watershed Monitoring †

Watershed monitoring was started last August 2005 in Fiji Islands and in Samoa, with the objective of characterizing watershed hydrology and sediment discharge into the nearby reef area. Monitoring instruments include 2 rain gauges (one deployed in the lowland, the other in the upland) and a water level logger and a turbidity/chlorophyll-a meter, both mounted to a triangular prismatic frame, deployed in the stream draining the watershed. The selected watershed in Fiji is the Naboutini watershed along the Coral Coast in the southern part of the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. Logging operation is ongoing in the watershed and this worsens soil erosion in the area. In Samoa, the Letogo watershed was selected. This watershed is eyed as a potential source of water for Apia, the capital of Samoa. This monitoring activity forms part of a research collaboration under the framework of the Asia Pacific Network (APN). Prof. Leon Zann (USP Suva) and Dr. Nat Tuvavalagi (PABITRA) are the collaborators in Fiji and in Samoa, respectively.

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Data Collection for Economy-Environment Linkage Study †

Data collection was conducted last February 2006. for census data, agricultural production stat and various GIS data layers both for Fiji and Samoa. These will be coupled with land cover change analysis with the aim of relating socio-economic changes and the effects on the environment using models.

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Sensor deployment in the stream in Letogo watershed, Samoa.