The Solomon Islands has made history by becoming the first Pacific Island nation to commence the IUCN Green List certification process for a community-managed marine area, representing a significant advancement in regional conservation efforts. This initiative underlines the nation’s commitment to sustainable management of its rich marine resources.
In preparation for this landmark process, IUCN technical experts held two days of training and awareness-raising sessions in Honiara, focusing on the IUCN Green List Standard and Certification Procedure. The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) coordinated these sessions, engaging critical stakeholders such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), Global Fish, representatives from the Arnavon Marine Protected Area, and Ecological Services Solomon Islands (ESSI).
Following the informative sessions in Honiara, the IUCN team traveled to Munda in Western Province to collaborate directly with community members and site managers of the Munda Lagoon Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA). The goal was to conduct a Green List Self-Assessment, a vital step for gauging the site’s alignment with globally accepted standards for effective and equitable area-based conservation.
Munda stands as the largest community on New Georgia Island, neighboring the Roviana Lagoon. The Munda LMMA includes five coastal communities—Nusa Roviana, Dunde, Kekehe, Lodumaho, and Kindu—all governed collaboratively through customary stewardship and management practices. This unified approach is crucial in protecting essential habitats such as seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and vital fish spawning sites.
During the assessment, IUCN experts noted the Munda LMMA’s strong alignment with key components of the IUCN Green List Standard, particularly concerning community governance, recognition of customary rights, adaptive management, effective zonation, and participatory rule-making. Rahul Chand, the Protected and Conserved Areas Programme Coordinator for IUCN Oceania, expressed optimism about the site’s potential to achieve Green List certification by utilizing the IUCN Green List Standards for a comprehensive self-assessment.
Dr. Olivier Chassot, an IUCN Green List expert, confirmed that while the LMMA is a strong candidate for certification, targeted improvements will be necessary. He provided site managers with specific insights on areas for enhancement, facilitating a clear path toward certification.
IUCN plans a return to Munda in early 2026 to continue supporting local site managers and to assess the Arnavon Marine Protected Area similarly. Both areas have been nominated by the Solomon Islands Government under the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) regional program, with backing from the SOMACORE Project.
The SOMACORE Project aims to implement the IUCN Green List Standard across six countries in the Coral Triangle—Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It offers a recognized framework for equitable management of marine protected areas while focusing on empowering local communities and fostering regional learning and collaboration through initiatives like PANORAMA Solutions.
By harmonizing traditional marine stewardship with international conservation standards, the Solomon Islands is establishing a robust model for community-led marine conservation efforts in the Pacific, paving the way for sustainable practices that can inspire other nations in the region and beyond.