Solomon Islands

~Population: 549 574 Land area: 29 785 km² ~EEZ area: 1 340 000 km² ~Reef Area: 5 750 km² HDI: Low EVI: Vulnerable

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The Solomon Islands are the third-largest island country in the Pacific, after Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The Solomon Islands have a coastline of 9,880 km and the provisional EEZ is with 1,589,477 km² the second largest in the Pacific. It comprises a total reef area of approximately 5,750 km² and a total mangrove area of 642 km². The country is composed of about 1000 islands divided into nine provinces, which differ in environment, population density and culture. In addition to this heterogeneity, there are three levels of governance over the oceans, customary, provincial and national. Approximately 80% of the land is customary land which includes foreshores, reefs and land between low- and high-water marks. This gives villagers control, ownership and rights to use of resources within the customary area. Customary rights are acknowledged by authorities and in some national and provincial laws.

Inshore fisheries have a direct and significant benefit to the people in the coastal communities of Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands has the fastest population growth of the Pacific Island countries.
Subsistence fishing is undertaken by 60 percent of the population and contributes a large proportion of economic activity.
Subsistence fisheries in Solomon Islands are characterised by specialised knowledge handed down through generations.

VALUING

Marine and coastal ecosystems provide benefits for all people in the Solomon Islands. Yet, these ecosystem services often remain invisible. Truly recognizing the value of such resources can help to highlight their importance and prevent their unnecessary loss.
The results presented here summarise a report on the economic values of the Solomon Islands’ marine ecosystem services. Once values are more visible, governments and stakeholders can plan and manage resources more sustainably, and maintain economic and social benefits of marine and coastal biodiversity in the long term.

Download Solomon Islands National Marine Ecosystem Service Valuation

PLANNING

In 2015, the Solomon Islands Government, technically facilitated by MACBIO, hosted an in-house, cross-Ministerial Ocean Summit to explore synergies, conflicts, development and conservation opportunities in regard to marine resources in the national EEZ. At the Summit, the government decided that a more integrated, EEZ-wide spatial planning approach would benefit the future of the Solomons. In 2016 the Cabinet decided to support more integrated ocean governance and the Ocean12 meeting established an Ocean Technical Working Group and decided to develop detailed roadmaps, including for spatial ocean planning.
Vision: A healthy, secure, clean and productive ocean which benefits the people of the Solomon Islands and beyond

The country process and support of MACBIO is summarized here: Solomon Islands Marine Spatial Planning Process Brief

The marine Atlas for Solomon Islands compiles over hundred datasets from countless data providers and for the first time makes this treasure trove of marine and coastal information accessible and usable – as maps with complementing narratives, as data layers and as raw data: Marine Atlas – Maximizing Benefits for Solomon Islands

MANAGING

To assist the Solomon Islands Government to achieve its targets for a marine spatial planning and effective management, MACBIO facilitated a review of legislation, policies, strategies and plans relating to the development of marine protected areas in the Solomon Islands.

Moreover, in the Solomon Islands, MACBIO supports the examination of the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the Arnavon Islands Community Marine Conservation Area (ACMCA).

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