New Flowering Plant : Fiji

Scientists have discovered a new flowering plant in the highlands of Matasawalevu village, on the island of Kadavu in Fiji.

The plant, belonging to the Medinilla group, was found by a team from the International Union for Conservation of Nature who was assessing the degradation of the river basin in order to help local people manage their water resources.

“The discovery of this previously unknown species of plant gives us a sense of just how fragile nature can be,” said Milika Sobey, Water and Wetlands Program Coordinator at IUCN’s Oceania Regional Office. “The fact that it was found during work on a watershed management project is one more lesson in how important it is that nature is included in the priorities for water management.”