Problems & Threats to the Environment

Population

The population of Solomon Islands, growing at approximately 2.9%, is expected to double in about 23-25 years. This will place increasing stress on the ability of rural areas to support the subsistence lifestyle while maintaining ecological integrity. Population growth is one of the primary driving forces behind the degradation of the environment, both from a human-use and a conservation perspective. The environmental effects of population growth can be seen primarily in relation to:

• The intensification and expansion of garden areas: the remaining patches of habitat within the coastal lowland rainforest belt are coming under intense pressure from further clearance. Local villagers are extending their practice of shifting cultivation to forest not previously cleared, including those opened up by 'selective' logging. In areas previously cleared for agriculture there is a reduction in the fallow period and/or an extension in the period of cultivation.
• Over-hunting: the over-hunting of land and marine species is occurring in many areas as a consequence of increasing high population densities, the reduction of tabus (traditional modes of harvest prohibition) through the introduction of Christianity, and the widespread availability of western technology.

Large-Scale Resource Extraction Industries

Large-scale commercial development projects, such as mining, oil palm and logging, are favoured by the central government because they offer high rates of return for the government, with almost all of the investment and risk being borne by transnational corporations. In the case of logging and mining, there are also immediate and lucrative cash benefits for landowners, without the need for any investment or labour on their part.

Landowners are steadily learning that industrial resource extraction projects bring few benefits in terms of lasting development, inequitable distribution, and invariably result in significant environmental, social and economic damage, and are starting to look at alternatives.

• Logging: Commercial logging poses the greatest threat to the low montane forests in Solomon Islands. Many thousands of hectares of forest have been acquired from landowners for logging. If present cutting rates are maintained, areas in which logging is viable will be exhausted within ten years, unless previously logged areas recover sufficiently to support future commercial harvesting of commercial species. Isolated pockets of primary forest remain, usually in the centre of islands and protected from exploitation by steep mountainous terrain.
• Oil palm: The cultivation of oil palm requires the clearance of large areas of lowland forest and the processing of the fruit causes severe pollution of receiving rivers and coastal areas. Currently a large project is under development on Vangunu Island; 10,000 hectares have been or will be clear felled in Stage 1 of the project, and the company is seeking to acquire a further 30,000 hectares for future stages. Vangunu Island is one of the major islands protecting Marovo Lagoon; the large-scale oil palm development is expected to impact seriously on the marine ecosystems of the lagoon, with a consequent loss of biodiversity and available resources for traditional harvesting by local communities.
• Mining: The biggest mining operation in Solomon Islands is the Gold Ridge Mine in central Guadalcanal, although currently operation has been suspended due to the civil unrest. However, prospecting continues in other areas and several deposits of commercially viable ore have been identified on Vangunu, Vella Lavella, Choiseul, Simbo, Ysabel and Malaita islands. If mining interests are pursued, there will be:
• a dramatic impact on local aquatic environments (marine and freshwater).
• deforestation of the mine area, and serious disturbance of surrounding forests through the construction of infrastructure and access roads.
• secondary deforestation, resulting in many social problems (in turn leading to further environmental impacts) through increases in population due to immigration.

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