Ensuring Resilient Ecosystem and Representative Protected Areas (EREPA) within the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology had concluded a three days consultation workshop on the Development of the National Protected Areas Network (PAN) Roadmap for Solomon Islands recently.
The National Protected Area Network (N-PAN) is a coordinated system of terrestrial and marine protected areas that are legally declared or community-recognised as protected areas. Instead of individual sites working alone, the network approach links them together to represent ecosystems and biodiversity, connect habitats, support local communities and coordinate governance, resources and monitoring at provincial and national level.
The N-PAN is a strategic mechanism and its role extends beyond biodiversity conservation. It also contributes to cultural and livelihood security, climate change resilience, governance and knowledge sharing, long term financing and meeting international commitments such as the Aichi and post 2020 Global Biodiversity targets.
In Solomon Islands several initiatives such as Community-Based Resource Management (CBRM), Locally-Managed Marine Areas (LLMA) networks operate as community driven networks that scale up local conservation action.
Meanwhile, these initiatives are not yet strategically coordinated to achieve ecological representation of key ecosystems and species.
Whilst we have existing organisations and initiatives such as Solomon Islands Rangers Association (SIRA), Mai-ma’asina, Green Belts (MMGB), Solomon Islands Conservation Communities (SICCP), Malaita Protected Areas Network (MPAN), and other provincial networks there remains no national Protected Areas Network to guide the extension and connectivity of formally declared protected areas and other effectively managed areas
Speaking during the workshop EREPA Chief Technical Advisor Dr. Kristina Fidali thanked senior Provincial Government representatives the Provincial Deputy premiers from Temotu Malaita, Western,Guadalcanal, Makira and Renbel and other Protected Area leaders from Rennell and Bellona ,Choiseul, Makira, Malaita, Western, Isabel , Guadalcanal and Temotu for availing their time in attending the workshop.
Dr. Kristina also encouraged all Provincial government committees to work closely with the local protected area committees so that those that yet to declared protected areas could made it possible for them to do so.
Speaking on behave of the participants, Western province Deputy Provincial Secretary, Mr. Collin Potakana acknowledged the national government through the Ministry of Environment for their continuous support to local communities and people to protect ecological and culturally significant areas, with such practice we can support each other in addressing the impact of climate change within our country at the local scale.
The attendees of the workshop include Deputy Premier from Temotu, and Deputy Provincial Secretaries from Malaita, Western, Renbel and Makira, and Provincial Protected Area representatives, Government ministry representatives, NGOs, CSOs, Development partners and EREPA team.
Source: Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology
