Fiji’s conservation guardian: how elizabeth erasito protected islands under pressure for two decades

In the challenging world of small island conservation, Elizabeth Erasito stands out as a dedicated guardian who understood that protecting nature requires more than good intentions—it demands political savvy, practical solutions, and unwavering persistence.

As director of Fiji’s National Trust for over 20 years, Erasito navigated the complex realities facing Pacific island nations. With limited land, stretched budgets, and external pressures from development and climate change, she managed a crucial network of parks and historic sites that served multiple masters: conservationists seeking habitat protection, communities preserving cultural heritage, tourists driving economic growth, and government officials balancing competing interests.

Erasito’s pragmatic approach set her apart in the conservation field. Rather than focusing on expanding protected areas, she concentrated on making existing protections actually work. She championed monitoring over declarations, recognizing that paper protections mean nothing without boots on the ground to track illegal sand mining, invasive species, encroachment, and fire damage. Her philosophy was simple but powerful: effective conservation requires practical tools and sustained attention, not just political announcements.

Under her leadership, Fiji’s protected areas—from coastal dunes to forest reserves and archaeological sites—weathered literal and figurative storms. Erasito’s legacy demonstrates that successful conservation in resource-constrained environments depends on leaders who can balance idealism with realism, understanding that protecting the environment often means mastering the art of the possible rather than the perfect.