FAO Forestry country profiles - legislation

Solomon Islands

Forestry legislation

The legislative framework for forest management in the Solomon Islands has been subject to frequent amendments and changes in direction during the past 30 years. Until independence in 1978, the laws governing the exploitation of forest resources were contained in the Forest and Timber Act of 1969. This was superseded by a Forest Resources and Timber Utilisation Act Cap 40 of 1978 which was substantially amended at various times (most notably in 1989) when processes and procedures for the exploitation of forest resources were incorporated including licensing provisions. The principal piece of forestry legislation in the Solomon Islands was the Forests Act of 1999, until it was suspended in December 2000 when the Sogavare Government repealed it (because it was not gazetted) and reverted to the Forest Resource and Timber Utilization Act, which sets out the processes required to acquire a license for tribal lands. The main focus of this Act is sustainable forest management. Other legislation and ordinances that have relevance for forestry include: the 1998 Environmental Act, the 1990 Protected Species Regulations, the 1990 Environmental Health Act, and the 1970 Timber (Levy and Mill Licensing) Regulation. Provincial governments also exert limited authority over forest resources through local ordinances. A significant piece of legislation that contributed to the shaping of Solomon Islands¿ forestry was the 1979 North New Georgia Timber Corporation Act, which transferred power to issue harvesting licenses from government to corporations, thereby setting an important precedent for the opening up of the country to extensive commercial harvesting.