Our work
Since 1991, WWF has been carrying out a variety of projects in the Solomon Islands. The emphasis of our work is community-based conservation. WWF projects in the Solomon Islands include:
Several years later, WWF extended and strengthened its work in Solomon Islands through the Community Resource Conservation and Development Project (CRCD), coordinated by WWF South Pacific Programme. In 1995, funding was obtained from the UK Overseas Development Administration's Joint Funding Scheme with WWF UK, to support project implementation for a period of five years. Secure funding for the SI CRCD project enabled the expansion of activities into the northern section of Western Province and into Choiseul Province.
WWF Solomon Islands programme is carried out with the support of the national government and seeks involvement of officials from the national agencies responsible for forestry, fisheries, conservation, tourism, education and commerce. The Western Province Government and Department of Forests, Environment and Conservation have endorsed and supported the program since 1994. The program is coordinated from the programme office in Gizo; a branch office in the nation's capital, Honiara, supports the policy and advocacy work.
- Community Resource mapping, conservation and development
- The Marovo 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.
- Marine Resource Development
- Marine Resource Management and Conservation Project to help government and communities establish, enforce and monitor a system of Marine Protected Areas in the Western province.
- The Mooring Lines Project to install mooring lines at 20 of the most vulnerable coral reef sites
- Bismarck-Solomon Seas Ecoregion Programme: A planning study aimed to guide and facilitate development of marine and coastal conservation work
- Sustainable livelihoods
- Tetepare Island Community Resource Conservation and Development project to develop a conservation and resource management plan
- Kekoro Women's Association Coconut Oil Project to help the Kekoro Women's Association with logistical and capacity building support
- Capacity building
- Projects that include capacity building of conservation leaders, GIS mapping of community resources and family planning training programmes.
History of WWF in the Solomons
Since 1991, WWF has carried out a program of community-based conservation in Solomon Islands. With initial funding from Australia and the European Commission, technical and financial assistance were provided by WWF to support customary landholding groups in Marovo Lagoon in the Western Province to plan and manage the conservation and development of their land and sea resources.
The early emphasis was on developing an appropriate approach and techniques for local communities to engage in resource planning and management activities, building on traditional knowledge and practices. The work was successful in assisting a number of rural village communities to assess natural resource management issues, confirm local values and needs, implement their own rules for the use and conservation of resources, and initiate resource development ventures.Several years later, WWF extended and strengthened its work in Solomon Islands through the Community Resource Conservation and Development Project (CRCD), coordinated by WWF South Pacific Programme. In 1995, funding was obtained from the UK Overseas Development Administration's Joint Funding Scheme with WWF UK, to support project implementation for a period of five years. Secure funding for the SI CRCD project enabled the expansion of activities into the northern section of Western Province and into Choiseul Province.
WWF Solomon Islands programme is carried out with the support of the national government and seeks involvement of officials from the national agencies responsible for forestry, fisheries, conservation, tourism, education and commerce. The Western Province Government and Department of Forests, Environment and Conservation have endorsed and supported the program since 1994. The program is coordinated from the programme office in Gizo; a branch office in the nation's capital, Honiara, supports the policy and advocacy work.
