One of the larger South Pacific nations, Solomon Islands extends for over 1 700 km. The archipelago is located within the Pacific’s Ring of Fire and within the cyclone belt, making it highly prone to natural hazards.

Solomon Islands also occupies the eastern portion of the global centre of marine diversity, known as the Coral Triangle. The Coral Triangle comprises 76 percent of the world’s corals and 37 percent of the world's coral reef fish species in an area that covers less than 2 percent of the planet’s oceans.

The Solomon Islands have the second highest terrestrial biodiversity in the Pacific. The archipelago’s natural forests are of recognised global significance given their unique vegetation, tropical oceanic forest typology and extremely rich biodiversity. However, this wealth of plant and animal species is at risk due to excessive logging and over-exploitation of natural resources.

Most rural Solomon Islanders depend on traditional agroforestry for their food and livelihoods. The forests protect critical water resources, prevent soil erosion, provide timber and non-timber forest products, and make important contributions to local food security and family health. The national economy depends heavily on the timber industry, which brings in about 15 percent of government revenue and 66 percent of foreign exchange earnings.

Where do we work?

The programme is implemented in the provinces of Guadalcanal, Malaita, Makira Ulawa, Western Provinces and in the Honiara city.

Agrobiodiversity

• Developing of a national multistakeholder consultation to identify key priorities and activities for the Pacific Biodiversity Action Plan.
• Working together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) towards:
  • Undertake Participatory Action Research (PAR) involving cocoa farmers to conduct research trials on sustainable practices and approaches on their farms.
  • Conduct research trials on soil management practices that improve soil health.
  • Rehabilitate in situ conservation sites of indigenous fruit and nut tree species.
  • Demonstrate good agroforestry practices and establishment of agroforestry nurseries.
• Developing a partnership with Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) to strengthened climate smart and ecosystem base practices.
• Collaborating with University of West Indies to review Bachelor of Science: Tropical Agriculture.

HHPs

• Promoting the participation of Solomon Islands to the Pacific Regional Pesticide Registration Scheme.
• Supporting the Pesticides Regulatory Authority to resume operations.
• Identifying gaps on registration of pesticides, bio-pesticides, and packaging, labelling, licensing, storage and marketing of pesticides.

What’s to come?

• Lead research to support commodity value chains of key cash crops and traditional food crops, in collaboration with MAL.
• Carry out research trials in farms using biopesticides and biological control to regulate pests on crops where pesticide use is high.
• Build capacity of extension officers and small-scale producers through production of a Farmer Field School Training Manual and Training of Trainers (ToT).
• Support the process for ratification on the Rotterdam Convention for Solomon Islands.
• Carry out a baseline survey on native cultivars and their associated indigenous practices.
• Provide extension and advisory services curricula, to institutionalize on the adoption of climate smart and ecosystem-based agricultural practices.