UNCCD Logging operation on Vangunu Island (Kele Bay) in the Marovo lagoon of the Western Province, Solomon Islands

Abstract

Solomon Islands is emerging from four turbulent years (1999 – 2003) of an ethnic crisis with a very weak economy, a rapidly growing population and a government system struggling to cope with the delivery of basic services. The country’s people are custodians to globally significant terrestrial and marine biodiversity that is at risk of being over-exploited and lost due to uncontrolled and unsustainable development activities. In recognition of the importance of environmental management and conservation the country ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Land Degradation (UNCCD) as well as a host of other Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA) including the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Despite its affiliations to these global agendas the country’s performance in addressing its obligations has been very poor