BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
THE Solomon Islands Rangers had worked in partnership with WWF-Pacific Solomon Islands staff through the facilitation of a series of training to forty-two participants from ten selected conservation communities under WWFSI Program in Gizo.
The training workshop was held on Monday 19th and ended on the 21st of December 2022 last year.
The ten selected communities are from Gizo Island, Kolombangara Island, Munda, Rannonga Island, Simbo Island and Vella la Vella Island.
The facilitating team consist of staff from the Solomon Islands Rangers and the WWFSI Gizo Field officers to introduce the concept and related activities of ranger work at the community conservations.
The areas the training covers are Rangers’ effective communication and issue handlings in protected areas, Developing a good mindset, and how to conduct a meeting that works in the community, Equipment handling and care, Field data management, Principles of fundraising, fundraising strategy for sustainability and simple project proposal development for communities.
The training will enable rangers to professionally handle and manage any issues or poaching that may take place within the community management area.
It also helps rangers develop good mindsets and behaviours about management areas as well as enables them to conduct meetings and programs that they may see fit in the community to promote awareness and understanding of the benefits management areas provide to communities.
The training is facilitated by the Solomon Islands Rangers Program Manager Mr Eddie Huitarau and Technical Specialist Mr Albert Kwatelae and will be executed by all Community Based Fishery Management Coordinators and community facilitators through WWFSI Program under its cycle funding allocation to the Solomon Islands.
Speaking to the community facilitators during the training, Project Manager Mr Edward Haikau Huitarau thanked representatives of the various conservation groups for taking an interest and making time available to attend the three days of intensive training.
He said for communities to be successful in their conservation efforts it is important that they must fully understand what is required of them as community leaders so that their activities are in line with national legislation and policies.
Mr Albert Kwatelae also remind the participants that accessing funds through various donors is not easy so it is also important that people must appreciate and develop a good working relationship with projects donor.
One of the outspoken participants Ms Rinda Melsen a Nusatuva Community Facilitator told the facilitators that she learned new knowledge on developing a problem tree as the basis for writing a simple project proposal.
Responding to remarks made by Ms Melsen, Mr Huitarau said understanding the link between a problem tree and a solution tree is important as you would want to address your community problem.
The participants also learned the link from project Goals, Outcomes, outputs and activities.
The training has enlightened the minds of participants on a lot of issues as far as conservation is concerned.
Mrs Varina Toribule the secretary of the Vitu Tribal Association also expressed her gratitude for how the Mind setting training delivered has given her the confidence to move on rather than given in her leadership.
Uriapo Tribe Conservation Rangers leader Mr Dickson Taniveke thanked the Facilitators for the sessions on Rangers’ effective communication and issue handlings in protected areas.
Meanwhile, SI Rangers Technical Specialist Mr Kwatelae told the participants, “In your effort to have a better life, the three things you as community facilitators want your people to do is to Preserve, Promote and protect your tribal lands and marine managed area.
He told participants that by doing so, they will be able to have the same resources enjoyed by those who came before them, the present generation and the future generation.
At the end of the three days of training the participants were given certificates for completing the first two series of training.
This was the first group in the country to be given the certificate after completing the series of training since 2021.
The training was proudly funded by WWF-Netherland.