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The impact of the project was clearly demonstrated when Nadi again experienced serious flooding in January
2012. The availability of real -time hydrological data helped communities and disaster response agencies
implement their response plans and minimise losses.
According to Joeli Cawaki, Commissioner for Fiji's Western Division, public and agency responses to the flood
events improved significantly as a result of the integrated approach facilitated by the Nadi demonstration
project.
'The integrated approach is working very well for Nadi, particularly in terms of the decision making - when to
vacate the town, when to stop people moving in and out, and also to make people aware when the Nadi river
is likely to burst its banks. The system is a success story for us.
I think we need to do the same for the other
big rivers in Fiji,' he says.
In addition, this data can provide guidance on land -use practices and whether to avoid development in
particular areas. It can also be used to calculate how high floor levels should be to protect buildings from
flooding.
Over the last decade, sugar cane cultivation has crept higher up the mountain basins and deforestation for
timber and wood chips has devastated upstream watershed areas. The result is more sedimentation and
storm runoff, increasing the risk of downstream floods and degradation of coastal reefs. The IWRM project is
now helping to reduce the impacts of deforestation and poor agricultural practices in the upper catchment.
The Fijian government recognises that the GEF demonstration project will serve as the management model
for other catchments in Fiji and legislation establishing an integrated approach to catchment management is
currently awaiting proclamation.