For the first time in Fiji, scientists, policy makers and conservation practitoners are converging to discuss the state of scientific knowledge and conservation.
The three-day meeting opens in Suva today and will be hosted by Wetlands International Oceania, Wildlife Conservation Society and World Wide Fund for Nature.
The Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Dr Stacy Jupiter, says the forum will focus on eight main themes.
"The first one is about eco-system based management and tools for conservation planning. Another one is about tools for habitat mapping. We have a theme on terrestrial ecology and marine ecology and also marine protected areas. There's another theme on community-based management and socio-economics. A theme on taxonomy and species conservation."
Dr Stacy Jupiter says the aim of the forum is for participants to share their ideas and for managers and government representatives to synthesise the information to improve the management of Fiji's natural resources at National and provincial levels.
