BY LESLEY FOINAGWA – ISLES MEDIA FREELANCER
Communities in West Kwaio, Malaita Province, have raised serious concerns over the pollution of rivers and streams caused by logging activities carried out by a foreign Asian company in recent years.
Residents say that since the company began operations, their once clean and healthy water sources have become unsafe for daily use. Polluted streams have made it difficult for people to access clean water for drinking, cooking, washing, and other essential needs.
“It’s not only affecting us humans,” one villager said. “Even the small creatures living in the water are dying. Our environment is no longer the same.”
Water is a vital resource for daily life, and communities fear that continued logging could have long-term impacts on both human health and the local ecosystem. Residents report that the pollution has already destroyed aquatic habitats, threatening biodiversity and the survival of freshwater species.
Comparing life today with the past, many community members say their natural surroundings have changed drastically. The arrival of logging companies has brought modern development, but also serious environmental damage.
“The beauty of our natural resources—our trees, our waters—has been lost under the threat of logging,” said another concerned villager.
Local leaders have also expressed worries about the destruction of forest areas. Trees, they say, play an important role not only in providing materials such as timber and firewood but also in supporting healthy air and serving as habitats for birds and other wildlife.
“What could we do about it when it becomes a crisis for us?” a rural resident asked. “We need to plant more trees to replace those that have been cut down.”
Community members are now calling for stronger protection of their environment and better management of water and forest resources. They stress that water is life, and it must be cared for—not abused.