GEOSCIENCE DIVISION
Map Cook Islands Federated Sates of Micronesia Fiji Kiribati Nauru Niue Papua New Guinea Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Palau Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Country
Population
Land Area
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Cook Islands Cook Islands
Population 21,750 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 236.7 km2
Climate
Water resource
Water consumption
Country Federated Sates of Micronesia Federated Sates of Micronesia
Population 107,862 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 702 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 4,928 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Fiji Fiji
Population 918 675 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 18,270 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 3000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Kiribati Kiribati
Population 107,817 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 811 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: South of the equator: 1,300 mm Tarawa: 2,000 mm Northernmost islands: over 3,200mm Eastern Line Islands: less than 1,000 mm
Water consumption
Country Nauru Nauru
Population 11,528 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 21 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,090 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Niue Niue
Population 1,625m(GoN statistics 2006)
Land Area 260 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2,180 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea
Population 5,795,887 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 462,840 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1000-80000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Marshall Islands Republic of Marshall Islands
Population 20,842
Land Area 458 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,700 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Republic of Palau Republic of Palau
Population 61,815(July 2007 est.)
Land Area 11,854.3 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Southern attols: 4,000mm Northern attols:2,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Samoa Samoa
Population 214,265
Land Area 2,944 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3,000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Solomon Islands Solomon Islands
Population 566,842
Land Area 28,450 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall:1500-5000 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tonga Tonga
Population 116,921
Land Area 748 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: Varies from north and south of tonga with an estimated average of 2500 mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Tuvalu Tuvalu
Population 11.992 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 26 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 3000mm per annum
Water consumption
Country Vanuatu Vanuatu
Population 211,971 (July 2007 est.)
Land Area 12,200 km2
Climate
Water resource Avg Rainfall: 2000 - 4000 mm per annum
Water consumption
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Programme for Water Governance in Fiji
Introduction
Fiji was chosen as the country for the national water governance pilot, partly because of initiatives and commitments already made by the Government of Fiji.
 
The pilot ran for eleven months, during which time an international consultant made short visits to help progress the development of strengthened arrangements for water governance at the national level in Fiji.It was hoped that the pilot would provide a basis for the Government to introduce comprehensive water management arrangements in the following two to five years. 

Approach to Water Governance

The National Water Committee of Fiji, which was established by the Government in 1998, has been the key body for coordinating action on water governance. The Committee discussed and accepted a ‘building block’ concept for identifying the elements of water governance that require attention.
Water governance is a complex and sensitive matter. Water governance in Fiji was considered according to the nine elements in the diagram. Each element needs specific consideration but water governance will not be successful unless all the elements are covered.
 
Within the scope of the pilot it was possible to make significant progress in the first five elements – policy, legislation, coordination, organisation and information, while identifying some areas for further development in the remaining four elements. 

Initial visit for the PfWG pilot

The initial visit took place in August and September 2005. During the visit, the consultant:
1. scoped the water governance requirements and develop an outline program for the pilot (to run from September 2005 to August 2006);
2. assisted in the development of the national water policy draft which was later approved by Cabinet (in Decmber 2005) as an interim policy, subject to consultation
 
The national policy was interim only because further work was needed on some key issues, such as native land ownership and water rights. Important elements in the national water policy draft are:
  • a statement of the importance of the government’s role in managing and allocating water for all uses:
  • a set of principles and objectives for water management, including sustainable exploitation and to achieve social and environmental benefits for the country;
  • a commitment of the Government to take further action on (i) developing comprehensive water resources legislation, (ii) establishing a high level advisory body on water issues, and (iii) establishment of coordinated information management of water data and information.

Subsequent progress

Between November 2005 and August 2006, four further visits were made by the international consultant. The following major activities were undertaken:
  • November 2005 a two-day workshop on Water Reform Strategy for Fiji
  • May 2006 a one-day workshop on Water Resources Legislation
The outputs from the workshops were used to develop proposals for the following:
  • a report on further development of water policy;
  • an outline document for water resources legislation;
  • a proposal for national coordination for water resources and provision of advice to the government;
  • an analysis of national organisation and responsibilities related to water resources, with a proposal for develoing a water resources management capability within government;
  • a report on water resources data and associated responsibilities.
The outcomes of the workshops were discussed by the National Water Committee in September 2006 with a view to further action on the key elements of water governance covered by the Programme for Water Governance pilot.

These are considered to be the main building blocks for achieving a water management framework which is capable of handling the steadily progressing pressures and trends affecting water resources in Fiji.
 
Some work was undertaken with financial support from ESCAP in 2002 on the identification of water management requirements in Fiji. At that time the Cabinet had decided:
  •  to set up a coordinating committee to review and advise the government on water management and water policy
  •  to develop a national water policy.  
Under the ESCAP assistance, some initial suggestions were made about a water management strategy to advance Fiji’s capability to control and organise the development and protection of its water resources more actively and effectively.
 
Since that time, the following has been accomplished:
  •  an initial draft water policy document has been developed, with leadership from the Mineral Resources Department;
  •  draft amendments to the Minerals Act have been circulated for comment: the amendments would give control of groundwater extraction to the Minister for Land
  •  and Mineral Resources and would enable groundwater protection zones to be declared.   
The amendments to the Minerals Act are considered an interim measure to enable greater control over the extraction of groundwater by important developments, particularly were such developments are close to one another and may conflict. Similarly, it brings in protection measures to maintain the quality of groundwater.