The Solomon Islands has marked a significant milestone by becoming the first Pacific Island nation to begin the IUCN Green List certification process for a community-managed marine area, a development that showcases the nation’s dedication to sustainable management of its marine resources. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to enhance regional conservation efforts across the Pacific.
To prepare for this historic endeavor, technical experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conducted two days of training sessions in Honiara. These sessions were organized by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) and included collaboration from key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and participants from the Arnavon Marine Protected Area, along with Ecological Services Solomon Islands (ESSI).
Following the training, the IUCN team moved to Munda in Western Province. There, they worked closely with community members and site managers from the Munda Lagoon Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) to conduct a Green List Self-Assessment. This assessment is critical for determining the site’s consistency with globally recognized standards for effective and equitable conservation.
Munda is the largest community on New Georgia Island, adjacent to the Roviana Lagoon, and includes five coastal communities—Nusa Roviana, Dunde, Kekehe, Lodumaho, and Kindu—operating under a collaborative governance model rooted in customary management practices. This unified approach is vital for the protection of key habitats, including seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and fish spawning areas.
During the assessment, IUCN experts observed strong alignment between the Munda LMMA and the core elements of the IUCN Green List Standard, specifically regarding community governance, respect for customary rights, adaptive management, effective zoning, and participatory rule-making. Rahul Chand, the Protected and Conserved Areas Programme Coordinator for IUCN Oceania, expressed optimism about the site’s prospects for achieving certification through the self-assessment process utilizing these standards.
Dr. Olivier Chassot, an IUCN Green List expert, acknowledged the LMMA’s positive attributes while also identifying areas for improvement. He provided detailed feedback to site managers to ensure they have a roadmap for enhancing the site’s conservation practices.
Looking ahead, the IUCN plans to return to Munda in early 2026 to continue its support for local site managers and to perform a similar assessment for the Arnavon Marine Protected Area. Both sites have been nominated by the Solomon Islands Government as part of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) with support from the SOMACORE Project.
The SOMACORE Project seeks to implement the IUCN Green List Standard across six Coral Triangle countries—Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. It promotes equitable management frameworks for marine protected areas and empowers local communities while fostering regional collaboration and knowledge sharing through initiatives like PANORAMA Solutions.
Through the integration of traditional marine stewardship with international conservation standards, the Solomon Islands is setting an inspiring example for community-led marine conservation efforts in the Pacific. This pioneering approach not only fosters sustainable practices locally but also has the potential to motivate other nations in the region and beyond to adopt similar conservation strategies.