The Solomon Islands consists of six major islands, 30 smaller islands and approximately 962 isles, atolls and cays. The islands chain extends over a distance of 1600km with a total area of 28,369km2 and Sea area (EEZ) of 1.34million sq km (National Environment Management Strategy, 1993:6).The islands are highly diverse with rare and endemic species of indigenous flora and fauna.

The Solomon Islands has 2,597 described plant species, 245 birds, 75 mammals, 87 reptiles, 19 amphibians, 777 fish and 1799 invertebrate species (IUCN 2008). Major threats to Solomon Islands biodiversity include: the ongoing threat of logging, mining, oil palm and other industrial agriculture and unsustainable fishing practices and the increasing threat from a rapidly expanding human population (3%/annum) and expanding conversion and degradation of forests through subsistence agriculture and cash crops and increase drought, storms and sea level rise as a consequence of climate change. 

Forest cover in the Solomon Islands has decreased from 80% in the 1990s to 60% today indicating a significant loss in biodiversity. The need to protect or conserve these forests is imperative to ensure that biodiversity of Solomon Islands is maintained. The current status of species in the Solomon Islands include: 2 extinct, 2 critically endangered, 10 endangered, 20 vulnerable, 184 near threatened species (IUCN 2008). These numbers are expected to rapidly increase over the next decade if we don't immediately expand and strengthen the existing protected area system.

Currently, there are about 42 protected areas in the Solomon Islands, 80 percent of which are in customary land ownership. These are largely being managed by local communities and NGOs, although the Government has supported a few of them. Most of these protected areas are marine sites. In early 90s eighteen new protected areas were proposed (Lees 1990).

Less that 1% of the Solomon Islands land and sea areas are protected.  It is a matter of great urgency to protect and effectively manage high priority areas (9% of the land and sea) identified as part of the Solomon Islands Ridges to Reefs National Gap Analysis. << Read less

Establish at least one large marine and one large terrestrial protected area for each of the six major islands identified in the National Gap Analysis in the Solomon Islands over the next 3 years. The protected areas to be established will consider climate change adaptation and PES to provide the incentive for ongoing support for these areas.

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The existing terrestrial and marine protected area system in the Solomon Islands consists of less than 1% of land and sea protected, a long way short of 10% CBD Goal.

This project will seek to establish at least one large marine and one large terrestrial protected area for each of the six major islands identified in the National Gap Analysis in the Solomon Islands over the next 3 years.  The protected areas to be established will consider climate change adaptation and PES to provide the incentive for ongoing support for these areas.

NB: The National Ridges to Reefs Gap Analysis is due for completion March 2010. << Read less

The National Gap Analysis identifies the existing gaps in the protected area system for the Solomon Islands and identifies the additional areas required in order for the Solomon Islands to meet its CBD commitment and establish a comprehensive, adequate, representative and resilient protected areas system for the Solomon Islands.  The priority areas identified as part of the National Ridges to Reefs Gap Analysis will need to be assessed for their payments for ecosystem service options as part of this project. It is expected that each protected area will have its own unique combination of services and benefits whether carbon, water or biodiversity. The resulting combination o f these services will help to secure, not only lasting benefits for biodiversity, but lasting benefits for the customary landowners. << Read less

1. The Solomon Islands Government
2. Conservation NGOs

The letter of commitment will be made available at a later date should it be required.

The Project would promote participatory processes and behaviour that affect the way conservation is done at the local and national levels. This would principally be achieved through the wide participation of local communities, capacity-building, and the promotion of accountability and transparency at different levels of the administration of the project.

This project will be a core project for the effective implementation of National Protected Areas priorities under the National Conservation Plan - identified in the National Gap Analysis. These areas will be incorporated in all National Plans

Goal 1.1: To establish and strengthen national and regional systems of protected areas integrated into a global network as a contribution to globally agreed goals
Goal 1.2: To integrate protected areas into broader land- and seascapes and sectors so as to maintain ecological structure and function
Goal 1.3: To establish and strengthen regional networks, transboundary protected areas (TBPAs) and collaboration between neighbouring protected areas across national boundaries
Goal 1.4: To substantially improve site-based protected area planning and management
Goal 1.5: To prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of key threats to protected areas
Goal 2.1: To promote equity and benefit-sharing
Goal 2.2: To enhance and secure involvement of indigenous and local communities and relevant stakeholders
Goal 3.1: To provide an enabling policy, institutional and socio-economic environment for protected areas
Goal 3.2: To build capacity for the planning, establishment and management of protected areas
Goal 3.4: To ensure financial sustainability of protected areas and national and regional systems of protected areas
Goal 3.5: To strengthen communication, education and public awareness
Goal 4.1 - To develop and adopt minimum standards and best practices for national and regional protected area systems
Goal 4.3: To assess and monitor protected area status and trends
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