SOLOMON ISLANDS PROGRAMME OF WORK ON PROTECTED AREAS

SOLOMON ISLANDS PROGRAMME OF WORK ON PROTECTED AREAS Capacity- Building Workshop for the Pacific region for implementation Of the programme of Work on Protected Areas Nadi , Fiji, 9 -12 February 2009

Overall vision for Solomon Islands programme of work on protected Areas n People-centred program n Vehicle to progress other national priorities including the improvement of people’s livelihood and climate change impacts n Sustainable and workable (visible impacts to people’s lives)

Challenges (Stakeholders engagement) n The time and personnel demands on stakeholders are heavy, and consistent engagement with them is a continuing challenge

Challenges( Science and Information) n n Insufficient training and knowledge of existing staff involved with protected areas management Limited scientific and technical information pertaining to individual Protected Areas, as well as a lack of knowledge among communities in and nearby Protected Areas as key challenges

n No Infrastructure for data and information storage/management or analysis (E. g data base and GIS) n Most Protected Areas not mapped n Capacity for regular monitoring/evaluation

Challenges (Governance and Institutional) n No effective coordination mechanism among national inter-government ministries/depts; NGOs and private sector n Legislation/Policy sometimes absent or vague; translation to practical actions unclear> lack of tangible results; lack of enforcement

n Ownership of Programmes/activities/projects n Programme sustainability (financing & ability of Government to absorb assistance, capacity issues)

Needs n Review/develop legislation to accommodate conservation initiatives n Build Scientific Technical capacity as there is evidence of insufficient training and knowledge of existing staff, limited scientific and technical information on management and project planning pertaining to Protected Areas

n Infrastructure for data and information storage/management or analysis (E. g data base and GIS) n Avoid duplication of activities and build synthesis with relevant conservation programmes n Establish predictable financial mechanism to support training of staff and communities, as well as to hire the minimum staff required for the Protected Areas

Opportunities n Strong government support n Threats are well defined n Availability of resources internationally n Existing methodologies

CONCLUSION n n Solomon Islands government is seriously looking at various opportunities to addressing Protected Areas issues in the country Partnership among the Government line Ministries, regional/international institutions, NGOs, Communities and the Donors is seen as the way forward in Protected Areas development in Solomon Islands

n Donors ensure their programmes support development of Solomon Islands ownership and leadership of conservation programmes within Solomon Islands Institutions to build local capacity