Solomon Islands - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The biodiversity of Solomon Islands is of global importance. The country has been recognized as a “Centre of Plant Diversity”, counting 4,500 species of plants, 3,200 of which are known to be native (indigenous). Despite this high level of biological diversity, endemism for plant species is generally low. However, 57% of palms, 50% of orchids, 75% of climbing Pandanus species are considered endemic... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The main threats that continue to endanger the country’s biodiversity are logging, inappropriate land use practices, mining and prospecting, over-exploitation of natural resources, population growth, natural disasters, invasive species, pollution and climate change. In the terrestrial environment, industrial logging and development of large-scale monocultural agricultural plantations of oil palm, coconut and cocoa, and the clearance of land for subsistence gardens, are the major activities directly threatening biodiversity... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

The NBSAP (2009) consists of 117 actions and 12 overall themes. The vision it supports is that the islands’ unique biodiversity must remain natural heritage and cultural identity. It promotes a long-term perspective on biodiversity protection addressing all Islanders regardless of their level of development and ensures the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The enactment of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act (1998) and the accession of Solomon Islands to CITES have effectively reduced and ended the export of birds from the country, while greatly reducing the export of many wildlife species. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of sites that have been fully secured for protection... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

The main legislation covering environmental issues in Solomon Islands is the new Environment Act (2008) which provides for an integrated system of development control, EIA and pollution control. It has considerable power by virtue of Article 4(1) which states that, in the event of conflict between the Act and other acts, the provisions of the Environment Act shall prevail... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

Regarding species monitoring, the production of the State of the Environment Report (2008), National Adaptation Program of Action (2008), Second National Communication on the impact of climate change on biodiversity required under the UNFCCC (2010) and implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA), have generated volumes of information and knowledge which help to catalyze efforts towards conservation and biodiversity-related activities... More »