Strengthening Conservation Capacity
Community-Based Organisations in Western and Choiseul Provinces
Funding was obtained in 2002 from the MacArthur Foundation to support a three-year program focussing on building the capacity of conservation leaders in Western and Choiseul Provinces.
This project aims to build the skills of individual conservation practitioners at the community level in the Solomon Islands as well as establishing a network of community-based organisations dedicated to learning collaboratively and achieving best practices in conservation action. The project focusses on three key areas - participatory design of conservation initiatives, organisational strengthening and conservation area management, which fit into the WWF Community Resources for Conservation and Development approach which has been developed in Western and Choiseul Provinces since 1995.
Application GIS CR Mapping
Through a mapping project introduced in 1999, communities in Solomon Islands have continuing access to maps which will assist immensely in the way customary land and sea boundaries are documented. The GIS facility is designed to bring useable maps to communities to support the management of their resources at village levels. It allows the wishes of local people over access of their land and sea areas to be respected in 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.
Population and Environment Project
and implement family planning training programs (including education, counselling and the provision of contraceptive methods) to help control population growth and reduce the level of pressure (use and exploitation) being placed on biodiversity in priority areas.
Project funding has been obtained in mid-2002 to begin work on a project that will address the issue of overpopulation and the environment, identified as one of the most important environmental issues in Solomon Islands. The population and environment initiative outlines a practical, responsive and results-oriented approach that will begin to address some of the increasing problems of overpopulation and unsustainable resource use in Solomon Islands.