BY CHRIS ALEX
CHIEF Lennard Ngaham of West Russell in Central Islands Province urged the Russell Islands people to prioritize marine conservation.
Speaking to local media at Louna Village on Friday, Ngaham stressed the critical need for all communities in the region to unite in safeguarding their marine resources, which have suffered from overfishing and environmental degradation.
The Lavukal Chiefs’ Day, an annual event celebrating traditional leadership and community unity, served as the perfect platform for Chief Ngaham to bring attention to this growing environmental concern.
He noted that while seven communities in West Russell have already embarked on marine conservation initiatives, it is essential for other areas in the Russell Islands to follow suit.
Ngaham highlighted the importance of Lavukal Chiefs’ Day as an opportunity for tribes to come together and resolve their differences while also providing a space for leaders to engage directly with the people.
“This event is very important as people from different tribes come together to settle their differences. It is also a time for leaders to touch down and chat with the people about their important needs—how to address them, where to address them, and when to address them,” he said.
For Ngaham, conservation is not merely an environmental issue; it is essential to the overall development of the Russell Islands. He stressed that marine conservation should be a top priority, given the alarming state of the region’s marine ecosystem. “It is really sad to see these days that our sea is overfished and our reefs are contaminated.
Events like this one should be crucial in making certain rules to protect our marine resources from overharvesting and to stop outsiders from coming in and doing whatever they want in our seas,” Ngaham said.
The call for marine conservation comes at a time when coastal communities throughout the Solomon Islands are feeling the effects of unsustainable fishing practices, and environmental damage to coral reefs. For Chief Ngaham, these issues represent an urgent challenge for the Russell Islands.
“Marine conservation is part of development in our society,” he said, pointing to the successes of the seven West Russell communities already involved in conservation efforts. According to Ngaham, these initiatives serve as an example of how traditional knowledge and modern conservation techniques can be combined to protect the islands’ rich marine biodiversity.
He called on other communities to adopt similar practices, not just for the present, but for the long-term benefit of future generations.
Chief Ngaham commended Hon. Oliver SaLopuka, one of the key organizers of the Lavukal Chiefs’ Day, for successfully hosting the event and bringing leaders together to focus on a common cause—the well-being of the people and the environment of the Russell Islands. “I commend Hon. Salopuka for hosting this event successfully and for bringing leaders together for a common cause, and that is to hear the voices of the people of Russell Islands and to execute changes for the betterment of everyone within the communities,” Ngaham said.
Ngaham’s remarks highlight the strong connection between leadership, community dialogue, and environmental stewardship. By encouraging marine conservation as a form of development, Chief Ngaham hopes that the Russell Islands will preserve their rich natural resources and strengthen their communities’ unity and resilience.
As more communities in the Russell Islands consider adopting marine conservation practices, events like Lavukal Chiefs’ Day become more significant. They provide a platform for chiefs, leaders, and the people to discuss pressing issues, including sustainable development and resource management.