Community resource mapping, conservation and development
WWF has been carrying out the following projects to develop community resources in the Soloman Islands
The WWF Marovo Project relied on annual funding. Its limitations were
The project was designed to have an impact on the way rural landholders and resource users in the Solomon Islands view, plan for, manage and use their resources and environment. The fundamental philosophy underpinning the project was that conservation in Solomon Islands occurs within the community context, not necessarily within the boundaries of a declared conservation area.
Results
The project resulted in a number of viable conservation initiatives, controlled and managed by communities: centres of excellence that can be used as demonstration models for replication in other communities.
It allows taking into account wishes of local people over access of their land and sea areas for decision-making at the provincial and national levels. The mapping facilities also support the management and prioritisation of conservation areas by WWF and other partners.
WWF's role
WWF spent several days with staff of the mapping unit of the department responsible for mines. Staff were trained in basic GIS and computer mapping. As well, WWF cleaned up and reconfigured their computer facilities to enable them to better utilise their available software.
WWF's review of mining in Solomon Islands was run concurrently with a national government review of national mining legislation. As a result, the relevant government departments couldn't facilitate a consultative process of review.
- The Marovo Region Integrated Planning Project to address the issues of resource overuse
- The Solomon Islands Community Resource Conservation and Development Project to assist community groups in resource planning, management and development ventures.
- Geographical Information Systems Community Resource Mapping to provide access to maps assisting in the way customary land and sea boundaries are documented.
- Legal and Policy Review of Mining Project to determine necessary legal, technical and policy actions required to strengthen the capacity of landholders.
Marovo Lagoon is a large reef system, protected by large islands of volcanic origin and semi-submerged barrier reefs.
© WWF - Solomon Islands
© WWF - Solomon Islands
The Marovo Region Integrated Planning Project
The Marovo Project, the forerunner to the WWF Solomon Islands Community Resource Conservation & Development (SICRCD) Project, was a major effort to address the issues of resource overuse. The Project was initiated in 1991 in response to landholders' concerns.
WWF's role- WWF provided technical and financial support in partnership with local community-based organisations.
- Individual landholding clans or associations have been central participants, engaged in resource planning and management activities. WWF facilitated the process, assisting participating groups with specialist advice on
- marine resource management
- coastal and forest ecology
- clan participation
- planning and development
The WWF Marovo Project relied on annual funding. Its limitations were
- No ongoing commitment could be made to participating clans and groups,
- Staff and technical support services could not be properly developed, and
- Limited the project from investing sufficient resources in some areas.
WWF Solomon Islands Community Resource Conservation & Development Project (CRCD)
WWF Field Staff facilitates a community resource planning session.
© WWF Solomon Islands
© WWF Solomon Islands
The overall goal of the CRCD Project :
To conserve and protect the natural environment and biodiversity of Solomon Islands by assisting customary resource owners to meet their development needs through the ecologically, socially and economically sustainable use of their natural resources.
To conserve and protect the natural environment and biodiversity of Solomon Islands by assisting customary resource owners to meet their development needs through the ecologically, socially and economically sustainable use of their natural resources.
WWF extended, expanded and strengthened its work in Solomon Islands through the Community Resource Conservation & Development Project for a period of 5 years, 1995 to 2000, in partnership with rural communities, government and NGOs.
The project had 4 programmatic components that formed linked stages in a process designed to contribute towards achievement of the overall goal:- Awareness and information: to increase understanding among customary resource owners of the need for resource conservation and their role in effective resource management.
- Community resource planning and management: to assist participating community groups adopt sound natural resource management practices by providing relevant resource materials, training opportunities, facilitation and technical assistance.
- Community resource development ventures: to assist participating communities design, implement and monitor specific sustainable resource development ventures that meet their development needs and serve as demonstrations of effective rural development.
- Strengthening local institutions: to establish mechanisms for continuing support of community-based conservation and resource management by strengthening the skills and capacities of local institutions.
The project was designed to have an impact on the way rural landholders and resource users in the Solomon Islands view, plan for, manage and use their resources and environment. The fundamental philosophy underpinning the project was that conservation in Solomon Islands occurs within the community context, not necessarily within the boundaries of a declared conservation area.
Results
The project resulted in a number of viable conservation initiatives, controlled and managed by communities: centres of excellence that can be used as demonstration models for replication in other communities.
Tetepare Island Community Resource Conservation and Development
Tetepare Island lies to the west of Marovo Lagoon, Western Province. Tetepare is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific.
Commencing in 1996, a working partnership was established between WWF and Friends of Tetepare (FOT) to discuss the future use and management of the island. Much of the project involved engaging other Tetepare landholders in discussions on the future use and management of the island, and developing a conservation strategy.Geographical Information Systems Community Resource Mapping
Through WWF's GIS project introduced in 1999, communities in Solomon Islands now have access to maps - a big help in the documentation of customary land and sea boundaries. The GIS facility is designed to bring useable maps to communities to support the management of their resources at village levels.
Other benefitsIt allows taking into account wishes of local people over access of their land and sea areas for decision-making at the provincial and national levels. The mapping facilities also support the management and prioritisation of conservation areas by WWF and other partners.
WWF's role
WWF spent several days with staff of the mapping unit of the department responsible for mines. Staff were trained in basic GIS and computer mapping. As well, WWF cleaned up and reconfigured their computer facilities to enable them to better utilise their available software.
Legal and Policy Review of Mining Project
The goal of the project was to determine necessary legal, technical and policy actions required to strengthen the capacity of landholders in the Solomon Islands.
The outcome of the project would help landholders make informed decisions about the future use of customary forests and lands for mineral exploration and development.WWF's review of mining in Solomon Islands was run concurrently with a national government review of national mining legislation. As a result, the relevant government departments couldn't facilitate a consultative process of review.
WWF spent several days with staff of the mapping unit of the department responsible for mines. Staff were trained in basic GIS and computer mapping.
