Teaching Duties

PC425: Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment (Course Coordinator) – Semester 2

This post graduate course is intended to teach students how to effectively process EIA and SEA of proposed development proposals/ projects.

Students will also acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the best practice assessment process in achieving sustainable development in which specialist skills can be effectively applied to ensure that development throughout the Pacific region is sustainable.

PC425 has been revised to harmonise concepts and practices around EIA & SEA whilst also integrating the implications of global environmental issues such as Climate Change and Disaster Risks. It also introduces students to EIA tools in post-disaster settings.

PC427: New Course- Social Impact Assessment (Support Course Coordination) – Semester 1

This course provides students with a fundamental understanding of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as a tool for improving the effectiveness of development activities in Pacific island countries.

It introduces social problems and issues that have frequently undermined development effectiveness throughout the world, while emphasizing issues of particular relevance in the Pacific: climate resilience and adaptation, customary lands and common property resources, cultural organization and leadership, and overcoming practical constraints common to small or remote locations.

Through case studies and practical exercises, students will be expected to attain knowledge of social impact assessment concepts and methods, and to demonstrate how they may be applied in a Pacific Island context.

Research Interest

Environmental Management

Conservation & Biodiversity

Applied Entomology

Climate Change Adaptation and Nature-based Solutions

Journal Papers, Books & Technical reports:

1.  Metherell, N., Beavis, S., Naikatini, A., Wales, N., Holland, E., Waqa-Sakiti, H., Tuiwawa, M. 2024. An assessment of rates and drivers of tree cover loss in island catchments through ground-truthing global model predictions at the catchment level. Regional Environmental Change, 25 (1). DOI:10.1007/s10113-024-02331-3
2.  Roque, F., Rashni, B., Ribeiro, D. B., Nogueira D. G., Sakiti-Waqa, H., Gisloti, L., Rodrigues, M. E., Pedro, M., Akite, P., Velayutham, S. S. and Stork, N. 2024. Chapter 19: Insect Conservation in Tropical Forests. Routledge Handbook of Insect Conservation, 1st Edition, Routledge Environment & Sustainability Handbooks, Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9781003285793.
3.  Metherall, N., Veitayaki, J., Waqa-Sakiti, H., Beavis, S., Qamese, S. and Holland, E. 2023. GEF in the Pacific Islands: pathways to incorporate monitoring, ecosystem theory, and stewardship. Pacific Dynamics, 76 (1): 243-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.26021/14343
4.  Rashni, B., Donnelly, T., Waqa-Sakiti, H., Osborne- Naikatini, T., Raituva, J., Maiwaqa, M., Maiwaqa, P. and Marinov, M. 2023. On the Fijian endemic Nesobasis brachycerca Tillyard, 1924 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) with first description of the female and updated description of the male. ZOOTAXA, 5311 (2): 251-266). DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5311.2.5
5.  Prasad, J. M., Waqa-Sakiti, H. and Iese, V. 2022. An Analysis of Ecosystem-based Adaptations in Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Pacific Dynamics, 6 (1): 50-68
6.  Dayal, S. R., Waqa-Sakiti, H. and Hodge, S. 2022. Ecological health, long-term monitoring, and sustainable exploitation of Fijian mangroves: adopting a blended eco-sociological approach to joint conservation and resource management schemes. Pacific Dynamics, 6 (1): 5- 29
7.  Rivas-Torres, A., Rashni, B., Waqa-Sakiti, H.,Tuiwawa, M., Lorenzo-Carballa, M., Beatty, C., & Coredro-Rivera, A. Nesobasis rito sp. nov. (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), a new species of forest damselfly from Vanua Levu, Fiji. Zootaxa, 5082 (2): 101-117
8.  Waldien, D.L., Setliff, G.S., Lal, S., Lingafelter, S. and Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2021. Xixuthrus ganglbaueri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
9.  Keller, S.M., Setliff, G.P., Waldien, D.L., Lal, S. & Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2021. Xixuthrus heros – (Gräffe, 1868). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
10.  Setliff, G.P., Waldien, D.L., Waqa-Sakiti, H. & Lal, S.2021. Xixuthrus terribilis – (Thomson, 1877). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
11.  Dorevella, N., Waqa-Sakiti, H. and Tabe, T. 2021. Climate change adaptation programmes on water security in the Pacific: A focus on the Solomon Islands. Pacific Dynamics, 5: 1- 17.
12. Waqa-Sakiti, H. Hodge, S. and Winder, L. 2018. Distribution of long-horned beetles (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera) within the Fijian Archipelago. The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 36 (1): 1-8.
13.  Tuiwawa, M., Waqa-Sakiti, H., Tuiwawa, S., Naikatini, A., Copeland, L. and Rashni, B. 2018. Colo-i-suva Forest Park Wildlife, USP Press, Suva.
14. Aguilar, G. D., Waqa-Sakiti, H. and Winder L. 2016. GIS for Conservation: Using Predicted Locations and an Ensemble Approach to Address Sparse Data Sets for Species Distribution Modelling: Long-horned Beetles (Cerambycidae) of the Fiji Islands. Unitec ePress. Retrieved from http://www.unitec.ac.nz/epress/.
15. Waqa-Sakiti, H., Winder, L. and Lingafelter, S. 2015. Review of the genus Ceresium Newman, 1842 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Fiji. ZooKeys, 532: 15- 53.
16. Marinov, M. and Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2014. A Fieldguide to the Odonates of Viti Levu, Fiji. USP Press, Suva.
17. Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2013. Insects. In: Tuiwawa, M, V., Pene, S. & Tuiwawa, S. H. (eds.) A Rapid Biodiversity Assessment, Socioeconomic Study and Archaeological Survey of the Rewa River Mangroves, Viti Levu, Fiji. IUCN Oceania, Suva, Fiji.
18. Waqa- Sakiti H., Stewart A., Cizek L. and Hodge S. 2013. Patterns of three species usage by long-horn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Fiji. Pacific Science, 68 (1).
19. Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2013. Chapter 5- Insects. In Tuiwawa, M., Pene, S., and Tuiwawa S. (Eds). A rapid biodiversity assessment and archaeological survey of the Fiji REDD+ pilot site, Emalu forest, Viti Levu, pp. 59- 63. Institute of Applied Sciences, USP, Suva.
20. Aalbersberg, B., Avosa, M., James, R., Kaluwin, C., Lokani, P., Opu, J., Siwatibau, S., Tuiwawa, M., Waqa-Sakiti, H. and Tordoff. A. 2012. Ecosystem profile: east melanesian islands biodiversity hotspot. University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
21. Waqa-Sakiti H. and Winder L. 2012. Diversity and distribution of forest canopy coleopteran on Eastern Viti Levu, Fiji Islands. Pacific Conservation Biology, 18 (3): 177- 185.
22. Waqa-Sakiti, H., Liga, A. and Cakacaka, T. 2011. Entomology report of the upper Wainavadu and Waisoi, Namosi Province. Institute of Applied Science, the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
23. Tuiwawa, M., Tuiwawa, S., Koliyavu, T. Waqa-Sakiti, H., and Naikatini, A. and Nakoro, E. 2010. Rapid assessment of the district, Nakasaleka, Fiji Islands – water and nature initiative (WANI) project. Institute of Applied Sciences, the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
24. Waqa, H., and Lingafelter, S. 2009. New Fijian Callidiopini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). New Fijian Callidiopini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 106: 3-15.
25. Van Gossum, H., Beatty, C., Charlat, S., Waqa, H., Markwell, T., Skevington, J., Tuiwawa, M. and Sherratt, T. 2007. Male rarity and putative sex-role reversal in Fijian damselflies (Odonata). Journal of Tropical Ecology, 23: 591- 598.
26. Prasad, S., and Waqa-Sakiti, H. 2007. Butterflies of the Fiji Islands. University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

Current Projects

1. Pacific Ocean & Climate Crisis Assessment Project
2. Technology Needs Assesssment III & IV (UNOPS)
3. Global Community Food for Planetary Health
4. Family Farming, Lifestyle & Health in the Pacific Islands, FALAH (EU H2020)
5. Blue CArBON condition Index and tool for Fiji (B-CABONI, One Shared Ocean Programme, Irish Aid)

Current Research Grants

2024: Irish Aid, B-Carbon Condition Index & Tool for Fiji. USP funding is EUR 112,462. Lead Investigator

2023: AUF Agence Universitaire De La Francophonie, Developing Resilience through Capacity Development on FALAH in PICs: Solomon Islands & Vanuatu (ResCapFALAH). 19,650 Euros. Principle Investigator

2021: USP- SRT Developing a Freshwater Bioassessment Protocol and Guidelines for Fiji. FJD $43,197.00. Principle Investigator

2019: USP-SRT The Distribution of recently established white footed Ant – Technomyermex albipes, its impacts on selected agricultural crops and the development of an IPM. FJD $49,800.00. Principle Investigator

2018: USP- SRT Innovation Grant: Documenting the Biota of the Colo-i-suva Forest Reserve, Viti Levu, Fiji. Budget: $49,980.00 FJD. Principle Investigator