Island and Ocean Ecosystems
Through the support of USAID, Sasamuga village in Choiseul Province of the Solomon Islands is becoming a notable example of ridge to reef management in the Pacific.
This work is part of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)-USAID Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project that aims to rehabilitate and protect the water catchment, provide greater water storage at the village and hospital, stabilise the shoreline and manage the nearby marine ecosystem.
This work is part of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)-USAID Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project that aims to rehabilitate and protect the water catchment, provide greater water storage at the village and hospital, stabilise the shoreline and manage the nearby marine ecosystem.
New nursery and water tanks in Sasamuga, Choiseul
The Pirini watershed in the steep slopes of Choiseul has been providing water for the local community and Sasamuga Hospital for over 30 years. Unfortunately it has been continuously degraded as result of human activities since the 1980's.
"The degradation of the catchment over the last few years has affected the water supply immensely. The root systems that grow through regeneration of the forest will hold the soil together and reduce the amount of sediment flowing into the water catchment," said Mr. Fred Patison, Ecosystem-based Adaptation Officer of SPREP.
Mr. Myknee Sirikolo, from the Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Forests and Research also added: "Often many water supply projects only focus on the area between the dam and the taps. We want to work on the watershed catchment. The only way the community can be secured is to protect their catchment and provide management and replanting for that area".
Mr. Myknee Sirikolo, Solomon Islands Ministry of Forests and Research
Between the ridge and the reef live the local community and without their support, a project like this cannot succeed. The Pirini community has already taken proactive actions in limiting gardening activities and tree cutting in the catchment and have also established a new nursery to providing seedlings for tree planting.
"I want to help the community to improve their water security and assist to facilitate their work" said Mr. Fred Tapebuda, a community volunteer from Pirini.
The USAID/SPREP project has complemented these community efforts by installing water tanks to increase on-site water storage from the existing weir. Further work is expected to be done for shoreline stabilisation which includes revegetation as a means of reducing the impacts of erosion and storm surge and awareness is being raised regarding a potential locally managed marine area.
To assist on an on-going basis, SPREP and the NGO Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community (LLCTC) have formalised their mutual interests in a recent MOU so that the two organisations to work closely together towards protection of the environment and communities at Sasumuga Village and throughout Choiseul province.
This project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this story and the SPREP website are the sole responsibility of SPREP and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
The Pirini watershed in the steep slopes of Choiseul has been providing water for the local community and Sasamuga Hospital for over 30 years. Unfortunately it has been continuously degraded as result of human activities since the 1980's.
"The degradation of the catchment over the last few years has affected the water supply immensely. The root systems that grow through regeneration of the forest will hold the soil together and reduce the amount of sediment flowing into the water catchment," said Mr. Fred Patison, Ecosystem-based Adaptation Officer of SPREP.
Mr. Myknee Sirikolo, from the Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Forests and Research also added: "Often many water supply projects only focus on the area between the dam and the taps. We want to work on the watershed catchment. The only way the community can be secured is to protect their catchment and provide management and replanting for that area".
Mr. Myknee Sirikolo, Solomon Islands Ministry of Forests and ResearchBetween the ridge and the reef live the local community and without their support, a project like this cannot succeed. The Pirini community has already taken proactive actions in limiting gardening activities and tree cutting in the catchment and have also established a new nursery to providing seedlings for tree planting.
"I want to help the community to improve their water security and assist to facilitate their work" said Mr. Fred Tapebuda, a community volunteer from Pirini.
The USAID/SPREP project has complemented these community efforts by installing water tanks to increase on-site water storage from the existing weir. Further work is expected to be done for shoreline stabilisation which includes revegetation as a means of reducing the impacts of erosion and storm surge and awareness is being raised regarding a potential locally managed marine area.
As these revegetation areas have to be carefully managed, activities such as these require long term effort, ongoing activities and awareness-raising to ensure that communities and stakeholders fully understand the expected results and care for their local environment.
To assist on an on-going basis, SPREP and the NGO Lauru Land Conference of Tribal Community (LLCTC) have formalised their mutual interests in a recent MOU so that the two organisations to work closely together towards protection of the environment and communities at Sasumuga Village and throughout Choiseul province.
This project is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this story and the SPREP website are the sole responsibility of SPREP and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.