The biggest threat the Fiji crested iguana faces is habitat loss due to fires, storms, agricultural development, and competition from feral goats. Goats were introduced to Yadua Taba in 1972 and numbered over 200 by the late 1970s. The vegetation on the island during this time was severely depleted by a combination of grazing and fires used to drive goats for ease of capture. After the discovery of the Fiji crested iguana, the island was declared a sanctuary and all but a few goats were removed and fires banned. As a result, the dry forest on the island has recovered to a great extent and is the best remaining example of Pacific dry forest. Invasive "Leucaena" trees threaten the regeneration of native food trees for the iguanas, but the government of Fiji has taken steps to eradicate the trees.