Empowering communities based on traditional conservation practices
In the Solomon Islands, conservation has a long history of use of traditional and customary practices known as "Hope" in Vangunu language. However since social and economic change and development, the communities experience huge change and undermining of traditional practices and customs. Our solution is empowering communities to have good governance and leadership, conservation activities and resource management, to be heard effectively by the national government.
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Impacts
Indigenous people in the community (village) with which we are partnering have seen the successful integration of science and traditional knowledge in management and protection of resources, proven by the fact that they still have abundant fish stocks and other marine animals. These resources will continue to support them compared to other communities that are badly affected by logging and huge pressures on fish stocks. They have fresh and clean water, fresh air and have established small scale ecotourism activities that help them in obtaining small cash to sustain their daily living. People also have good and fresh vegetables from their farms and gardens. Local leaders are developing and re-strengthening their governance system as they establish management plans. This is yet to be formally recognized by Solomon Island Government under the newly approved/passed Protected Areas Act 2010.