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The Upper Navua River cuts a narrow gorge through the province of Serua in the central highlands of Viti Levu. The Navua River represents Fiji's third largest freshwater drainage. The gorge is approximately 75 meters deep and varies in width from 5 to 25 meters. The Upper Navua Conservation Area (UNCA) encompasses tins never gorge and approximately 58% of die entire catchment area. Lush highland rainforest surrounds the entire drainage and provides a host of botanical cures diat are utilized by die indigenous peoples of the area. The forest, over and associated biodiversity provide die necessary supplies and food required for daily living and a wide range of ecosystem services to the entire catchment area including flood control for lower areas.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a ‘Rio Convention’ resulting from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992. Fiji signed the Convention at that time, indicating its commitment to the Convention’s objectives. Fiji ratified the CBD on 25 February 1993.