Funafuti Conservation Area

{{Infobox islands

| name = Funafuti Conservation Area

| image_name =

| image_caption = Funafuti atoll

| image_size = 250px

| locator_map =

| map_caption =

| local_name = Kogatapu (protected area)

| nickname =

| location = Western side Funafuti atoll, south of Tepuka islet (highlighted above)

| coordinates =

| archipelago = Funafuti

| total_islands = 6

| major_islands = Tepuka Vili Vili, (also called Tepuka Savilivili); Fualopa; Fuafatu; Vasafua; Fuagea (also called as Fuakea) and Tefala.

| area_km2 = 33

| highest_mount =

| elevation_m = 3

| country = Tuvalu

| country_admin_divisions_title =

| country_admin_divisions =

| population =

}}

The Funafuti Conservation Area is a marine conservation area covering 33 square kilometers (12.74 square miles) of reef, lagoon and motu (islets) on the western side of Funafuti atoll in Tuvalu. The marine environment of the conservation area includes reef, lagoon, channel and ocean; and are home to many species of fish, corals, algae and invertebrates. The islets are nesting sites for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Fualopa hosts a breeding colony of black noddy (Anous minutes).

The decision to create a protected area (Kogatapu) was made in 1999; the purpose of the Funafuti Conservation Area is the conservation of the marine and land based biodiversity (plants, animals and ecosystems) within the protected area. The boundaries of the Funafuti Conservation Area encompass about 20 percent of the total coral reef area of Funafuti lagoon (Te Namo),{{cite web|work= Funafuti Falekaupule|title= Funafuti Strategic Plan 2011-2015|date= February 2011|url= https://www.unisdr.org/preventionweb/files/27081_funstrageticplan20112015%5B1%5D.pdf|access-date= 13 February 2021}} and is an important part of the protection of the coral reefs of Tuvalu.

History

The project to create the Kogatapu began under the administration of the Funafuti Falekaupule (the Funafuti local council) and with the support of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the conservation area was funded under SPREP's South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP).{{cite web| last= Hugh Govan & Sandrine Job| title = Funafuti Atoll Coral Reef Restoration Project – baseline report |date = June 2007 | publisher= Coral Reefs in the Pacific (CRISP), Noumea | url= http://www.sprep.org/pyor/reefdocs/CRISP/C2B1_0706_Tuvalu.pdf | access-date=26 October 2011|display-authors=etal}} After surveys of the marine environment,Kaly, U.L., T. M. Alefaio, C. M. Ludescher, K. Talakatoa and S. Alefaio, (1999) Second marine survey of Funafuti conservation area, Tuvalu, Funafuti Town Council. and consultation with the land owners and the Kaupule o Funafuti, (the elders and decision makers of Funafuti), the Government of Tuvalu created the Kogatapu in the Kaupule o Funafuti Conservation Area Order made under Section 3 of the Conservation Area Act, which order took effect on 1 December 1999.{{cite web| title= Kaupule o Funafuti Conservation Area Order | publisher=Government of Tuvalu |date=2008|url= http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tuv99598.pdf |access-date=28 October 2011}}

Land and marine environment

File:Green turtle swimming over coral reefs in Kona.jpg

File:Chelonia mydas is going for the air edit.jpg

The Funafuti Conservation Area is sometimes called the 'Kogatapu Conservation Area' or 'Funafuti Marine Conservation Area'. Six islets (motu, in the Tuvaluan language) are included in the Funafuti Conservation Area: Tepuka Vili Vili, (also called Tepuka Savilivili); Fualopa; Fuafatu; Vasafua; Fuagea (also called Fuakea) and Tefala.{{cite book |title= Admiralty Nautical Chart 2983 Tuvalu – Funafuti atoll|publisher= United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO)}} Vasafua was severely damaged by Cyclone Pam. The coconut palms were washed away, leaving the islet as a sand bar.{{cite web| last =Wilson | first =David | work= Tuvalu-odyssey.net |title= Vasafua Islet vanishes |date = 4 July 2015|url= http://www.tuvalu-odyssey.net/vasafua-islet-vanishes/ | access-date=22 July 2015}}{{cite web| last =Endou | first = Shuuichi | work= Tuvalu Overview (Japanese) |title= バサフア島、消失・・・(Vasafua Islet vanishes)|date = 28 March 2015|url= http://www.tuvalu-overview.tv/blog/news/3253/ | access-date=22 July 2015}}

The Tuvalu National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of 2009 describes the marine environment as comprising six major ecosystem types: oceanic, outer reef, lagoonal, back reef, lagoon floor, and patch reefs, plus natural channels between the ocean and lagoon. It says these ecosystems produce sediment that is required for island building and maintenance and support communities of corals, other invertebrates, algae, plankton, fish and marine mammals and reptiles.{{cite book |last1= Dr A J Tilling & Ms E Fihaki |title= Tuvalu National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan |url= http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/tv/tv-nr-04-en.pdf|date=17 November 2009 |publisher= Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity |page=7 }}

The terrestrial invertebrates that are found in Tuvalu are land and shore crabs, including paikea (Discoplax rotunda), tupa (Cardisoma carnifex), kamakama (Grapsus albolineatus), a range of hermit crabs, uga (Coenobita spp) and the coconut crab, ū or uu (Birgus latro).{{cite report|last= FCG ANZDEC Ltd |title = Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment – Nanumaga and Nanumea |date= 7 August 2020 |publisher= The Pacific Community |pages=66|url= https://www.adaptation-undp.org/Tuvalu-Coastal-Adaptation-Project-TCAP-ESIA-Nanumaga-Nanumea |access-date=6 February 2021}}{{cite web|title= Tuvalu Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity|publisher= Government of Tuvalu|year = 2016|url= https://www.cbd.int/reports/search/ | accessdate=11 November 2023}}

The islets are also nesting sites for the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)(fonu in tuvaluan).{{cite book |last1= Hedley |first1= Charles |title= General account of the Atoll of Funafuti |url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |year= 1896 |publisher= Australian Museum Memoir 3(2): 1–72 |pages= 63–68 |accessdate= 29 September 2013 |archivedate= 15 October 2013 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015112253/http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |url-status= deviated }} The IUCN Red List identifies only the green turtle as being found in Tuvalu. The green turtle is recognised as critically endangered. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) lists two additional turtle species as being found in Tuvalu: hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricate) and leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), with both species being recognised as critically endangered.{{cite web| work=Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)|title=Pacific Islands Regional Species Programme 2008-2012|year =2007|url=http://www.sprep.org/attachments/Legal/marinespeciesprog.pdf| access-date=9 October 2013}}

The marine environment of the Kogatapu includes reef, lagoon, channel and ocean; and are home to many species of fish, corals, algae and invertebrates.{{cite web|author= Randy Thaman, Feagaiga Penivao, Faoliu Teakau, Semese Alefaio, Lamese Saamu, Moe Saitala, Mataio Tekinene and Mile Fonua| work= Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of the Conservation Status of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) In Tuvalu|title= Report on the 2016 Funafuti Community-Based Ridge-To-Reef (R2R) |date = 2017|url= https://www.sprep.org/attachments/VirLib/Tuvalu/r2r-biorap.pdf| access-date=25 May 2019}} Surveys prior to 1999 identified 76 species of indicator fish, 141 species of food fish and 149 mobile invertebrates such as crabs and sea cucumbers.{{cite web| title = Call – A newsletter for Conservation Areas in the Pacific, Issue no. 3|date = July–September 1999|publisher= Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)| url= http://www.sprep.org/att/publication/Retro/newsletters/Call%203%20.pdf | access-date=28 October 2011}} A 2007 survey established that fish populations had increased as a result of the Funafuti Conservation Area. Large-sized individual fishes of the highly prized target food species, such as grouper and snapper were observed; the presence of so many large fish of desirable target food species indicates that there is very low fishing pressure in the Funafuti Conservation Area,{{cite web | last = Berdach | first = James T. | title = Case Study: The Funafuti Conservation Area, Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu – Lessons for Future Marine Conservation Planning and Management | date = June 2007 | publisher = Government of Tuvalu / Asian Development Bank | url = https://tuvalu-data.sprep.org/dataset/funafuti-conservation-area-lessons-future-marine-conservation-planning-and-management | access-date = 20 January 2024}} although enforcement by conservation rangers of the no-fishing rules is necessary to preserve the fish stock.{{cite web|title= Funafuti Reef Fisheries Stewardship Plan (FRFSP)|publisher= Tuvalu Fisheries (Tuvalu Ministry of Natural Resources)|date = 15 November 2017|url= http://www.tuvalufisheries.tv/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FRFSP-231117-web.pdf| accessdate=11 August 2021}}

Surveys were carried out in May 2010 of the reef habitats of Nanumea, Nukulaelae and Funafuti (including the Funafuti Conservation Area) and a total of 317 fish species were recorded during this Tuvalu Marine Life study. The surveys identified 66 species that had not previously been recorded in Tuvalu, which brings the total number of identified species to 607.{{cite web| last= Sandrine Job, Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli| title = Tuvalu Marine Life Synthesis Report|date = December 2011| publisher= an Alofa Tuvalu project with the Tuvalu Fisheries Department| url= http://www.alofatuvalu.tv/US/05_a_tuvalu/05_page_tml/livret2light.pdf| access-date=20 January 2024}}{{cite web| last= Sandrine Job, Dr. Daniela Ceccarelli| title= Tuvalu Marine Life Scientific Report| date= December 2012| publisher= an Alofa Tuvalu project with the Tuvalu Fisheries Department| url= https://tuvalu-data.sprep.org/resource/tuvalu-marine-life-scientific-report| access-date= 20 January 2024}}

The general Tuvaluan name for an eel is pusi or puhi, or in relation to eared eels, tuna, such as the black-edged conger eel, (Conger cinereus). The most common species are: (pusi kena or puhi tea) peppered moray (Gymnothorax pictus); (pusi uli) whitemouth moray (Gymnothorax meleagris); (pusi ulaula or puhi gatala) giant moray (Gymnothorax javanicus); (puleva), starry or snowflake moray (Echidna nebulosa). (Pusi uli or puhi), fimbriated moray (Gymnothorax fimbriatus), also known as dark-spotted moray or spot-face moray, is a moray eel that is also found on the reefs.

Low densities of reef sharks (magō) were recorded in the Tuvalu Marine Life study. Four species of reef shark have been identified: (magō or lālāila) grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos); (kili) blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus); (malu) whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus); and (alava) lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris), which are all listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, as 'near threatened' species. (magō samala) Scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) are also seen off the reefs.{{cite web|author= Randy Thaman, Feagaiga Penivao, Faoliu Teakau, Semese Alefaio, Lamese Saamu, Moe Saitala, Mataio Tekinene and Mile Fonua| work= Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of the Conservation Status of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) in Tuvalu|title= Report on the 2016 Funafuti Community-Based Ridge-To-Reef (R2R) |date = 2017|url= https://www.sprep.org/attachments/VirLib/Tuvalu/r2r-biorap.pdf| access-date=13 February 2021}}

The Tuvalu Marine Life study also recorded low densities of two species of rays (fai): (fai fālua or fai pulou) manta ray (Manta birostris); and (fai manu) spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari), which are both listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, as 'near threatened' species.

Oceanic species

The range of (uninuni) tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) and mako shark (Isurus) includes the ocean around Tuvalu. The mako is known as rokea in the Tuvaluan language.

Skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna and giant trevally are the larger pelagic fish that are found in the ocean around Tuvalu.

The pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and other cetacea, including sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus ) and orca or killer whale (Orcinus orca), are also found in the ocean around Tuvalu.{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Cara |title= Current State of Knowledge of Cetacean Threats, Diversity and Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region |url=http://www.cms.int/en/document/current-state-knowledge-cetacean-threats-diversity-and-habitats-pacific-islands-region |date= 14 February 2006 |publisher= WDCS Australasia Inc |page=98 }}{{cite journal |author= Murase, H & Temoai, I & Kirata, Taratau & Finkaso, S & Yasunaga, Genta & Pastene, L.A.|url= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287897688|title= A note on cetaceans off Kiribati and Tuvalu from a research cruise in October 2010 |journal= Journal of Cetacean Research and Management |volume=13 |year=2023|issue= 2|pages=153–158|doi= 10.47536/jcrm.v13i2.544|s2cid= 256717782|doi-access= free}}

Bird life of Tuvalu

File:Anous minutus.JPG

File:Black Noddy Head.jpg

Surveys have established a total of 35 bird species as confirmed in Tuvalu,{{cite web| last =Parr | first = John W.K. | title = Important bird areas in Tuvalu |date = January 2008|publisher= BirdLife International | url= http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Birdlife-Pacific/2.%20%20CONTENTS.htm | access-date=26 October 2011}} including:

9 species of terns (Sternidae)
7 species of sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
4 species of shearwaters and petrels (Procellariidae)
3 species of boobies (Sulidae)
2 species of tropicbirds (Phaethontidae)
Great frigatebird (Fregata minor)
Lesser frigatebird (Fregata ariel)

Pacific imperial pigeon (Ducula pacifica) live in the broadleaf forest. Migratory birds are found in Tuvalu, such as long-tailed cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis) or areva (Tuvaluan).{{cite book |last1= Hedley |first1= Charles |title= General account of the Atoll of Funafuti |url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |year= 1896 |publisher= Australian Museum Memoir 3(2): 1–72 |page= 46 |accessdate= 29 September 2013 |archivedate= 15 October 2013 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015112253/http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |url-status= deviated }} The birds found in Tuvalu include 17 breeding species, such as:

eight species of migratory shorebirds, including the globally threatened species, bristle-thighed curlew (Numenius tahitiensis); and
nine species of seabirds, including black noddy (Anous minutes) or taketake (Tuvaluan).

Fualopa hosts a breeding colony of black noddy.{{cite book |title=Funafuti Marine Conservation Area, Tuvalu: report of the bird survey (August 31 – September 11, 1998) |year=1998 |publisher=South Pacific Regional Environment Programme |oclc=64390275 |page=14 }}

Native broadleaf forest

File:Tuvalu - Funafuti - Approach.jpg]]

File:Fualifeke Islet, Funafuti Atoll.jpg

The native broadleaf forest is limited to 4.1% of the vegetation types on the islands of Tuvalu.{{cite web|author= Randy Thaman, Feagaiga Penivao, Faoliu Teakau, Semese Alefaio, Lamese Saamu, Moe Saitala, Mataio Tekinene and Mile Fonua| work= Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of the Conservation Status of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) In Tuvalu|title= Report on the 2016 Funafuti Community-Based Ridge-To-Reef (R2R) |date = 2017|url= https://www.sprep.org/attachments/VirLib/Tuvalu/r2r-biorap.pdf| access-date=25 May 2019}} The islets of the Kogatapu have 40% of the remaining native broadleaf forest on Funafuti atoll. The other land cover types found on Funafuti include coastal littoral forest and scrub, mangroves and wetlands.

The Tuvalu forest gecko (Lepidodactylus tepukapili) is endemic to Tuvalu,{{cite journal |author= George R. Zug, Dick Watling, Tataua Alefaio, Semese Alefaio, and Claudia Ludescher|s2cid= 38959270|title= A new gecko (Reptilia: Squaniata: Genus Lepidodactylus) from Tuvalu, South-central Pacific |journal= Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington|volume=116 |issue= 1|year=2003|pages=38–46}}{{NRDB species|genus=Lepidodactylus|species=tepukapili}} and has been located in the Kogatapu on Fuagea (also called Fuakea) and on Tepuka.{{cite web|work= polynesian diversity|title= Lepidodactylus tepukapili Zug, Watling, Alefaio, Alefaio & Ludescher|date= 12 February 2012|url= http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/TUV_2011_Funafuti_StrageticPlan.pdf|access-date= 25 May 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100522/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/TUV_2011_Funafuti_StrageticPlan.pdf|archive-date= 4 March 2016|url-status= dead}}

While coconut palms are common in Tuvalu, they are usually cultivated rather than naturally seeding and growing. Tuvaluan traditional histories are that the first settlers of the islands planted coconut palms as they were not found on the islands. The native broadleaf forest of Funafuti includes the following species, that were described by Charles Hedley in 1896,{{cite book |last1= Hedley |first1= Charles |title= General account of the Atoll of Funafuti |url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |year= 1896 |publisher= Australian Museum Memoir 3(2): 1–72 |pages= 30–40 |accessdate= 29 September 2013 |archivedate= 15 October 2013 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015112253/http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |url-status= deviated }} which includes the Tuvaluan name (some of which may follow Samoan plant names):

Fala or screw pine, (Pandanus)
Puka or pouka, (Hernandia peltata)
Futu, (Barringtonia asiatica)
Fetau, (Calophyllum inophyllum)
Ferra, (Ficus aspem), native fig
Fau or fo fafini, or woman's fibre tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus)
Lakoumonong, (Wedelia strigulosa)
Lou, (Cardamine sarmentosa)
Meili, (Polypodium), fern
Laukatafa, Asplenium nidus, bird's-nest fern
Milo or miro, (Thespesia populnea)
Ngashu or naupaka, (Scaevola taccada)
Ngia or ingia, (Pemphis acidula), bush
Nonou or nonu, (Morinda citrifolia)
Sageta, (Dioclea violacea), vine
Pukavai, (Pisonia grandis)
Talla talla gemoa, (Psilotum triquetrum), fern
Tausunu or tausoun, (Heliotropium foertherianum)
Tonga or tongo, (Rhizophora mucronata), found around swamps
Tulla tulla, (Triumfetta procumbens), whose prostrate stems trailed for several feet over the ground
Valla valla, (Premna tahitensis)

Donald Gilbert Kennedy, the resident district officer in the administration of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1932 to 1938, identified other trees found in the broadleaf forest:{{cite book |last1= Kennedy |first1= Donald |title= The Ellice Islands Canoe Journal of the Polynesian Society Memoir no. 9 |url= http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Memoirs_%28Additional%29/No._9%3A_Field_Notes_on_the_Culture_of_Vaitupu%2C_Ellice_Islands%2C_by_D._G._Kennedy/The_Ellice_Islands_Canoe%2C_p_71-100/p1 |year= 1931 |publisher= Journal of the Polynesian Society |pages= 71–100 |access-date= 9 April 2019 |archive-date= 6 October 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221006034408/https://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Memoirs_%28Additional%29/No._9%3A_Field_Notes_on_the_Culture_of_Vaitupu%2C_Ellice_Islands%2C_by_D._G._Kennedy/The_Ellice_Islands_Canoe%2C_p_71-100/p1 |url-status= dead }}

Pua, (Guettarda speciosa)
Kanava, (Cordia subcordata)

Access to the ''Kogatapu''

The protected lagoon, coral reefs and bommies of the Kogatapu provide for snorkeling and scuba diving. Access to the Funafuti Conservation Area is by boat; the Conservation Area is {{convert|15|km}} across the lagoon (called Te Namo) from the main island of Fongafale.