Solomon Islands: Representing the Coral Triangle

Solomon Islands: Representing the Coral Triangle

Sara MartinQEDHS – December 11th

The Coral Triangle

Marine area including waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Solomon Islands.

Named because greatest amount of corals in this area (600 different coral species in some places)

Called ‘the Nursery of the Seas’ because of incredibly high marine biodiversity (highest in the world)

What is the Coral Triangle?

Coral Triangle Values

Rich and diverse coral reefs 2000 species of reef fish 6 of 7 marine turtle species Whales, sharks, rays, dugongs, dolphins Mangrove, seaweed, seagrass 120 million people Highly productive tuna fishery (fuels a multi-billion dollar

global tuna industry) Nature–based tourism industry valued at over US$12

billion annually

Coral Triangle Threats

Economic development and population growth 1) Unsustainable harvest

(overharvest) of marine resources

2) Destructive fishing practices

3) Problematic land-based activities

4) Coastal development5) Destruction of reef and

mangrove habitat

Climate Change 1) Deterioration of reef health2) Sea level rise3) Shift in species distribution

and abundance

......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH0ma3wNYy4

World Wildlife Fund in the Coral Triangle

World Wildlife Fund

The Coral Triangle = WWF Priority Place WWF working with people to help maintain food

security and livelihoods through marine conservation: Building sustainable fisheries Preparing for climate change Creating protected areas Alternate livelihoods Protecting marine turtles Reducing bycatch

WWF in Coral Triangle

There are WWF offices in all 6 coral triangle countries

WWF Solomon Islands - Field office in Gizo (5 local staff)- Admin office in Honiara (1 local staff)

Where are the Solomon Islands?

SI = 1000+ islands Pop. = approx. 600 000

...a closer look

Red circle = Ghizo Island, Western Province

WWF in Solomon Islands

Ghizo Island = current integration site (focus area) for WWF projects

Marine conservation, sustainable livelihoods, capacity building (communities and gov’t)

Mangrove, fish, coral reef, turtles, protected areas, alternate livelihoods

Overall goal = Maintaining food security and livelihoods of Solomon Islanders

Work Photos

2 days/month (new moon) Tingo and some local dive boys monitor fish at two fish spawning aggregation sites.

Communities on Nusatuva Island are working together to set up marine protected areas (MPAs) and to do coral farming.

Illitona – small community on Nusatuva Island.

Growing corals

Protected Areas Act (2010) Education and Awareness night for Nusatuva communities.

Meeting with Nusatuva MPA Management Committee. Developing their MPA management plan required many community visits.

A bamboo rafter designed to attract pelagic fish, allowing people to still catch fish for food and cash needs while reducing fishing pressure on reefs

Inshore Fish Aggregating Device (IFAD)

Images of Koqulavata Bay. Residents of the Bay are working to establish the Bay as a protected area.

Kogulavata Bay office...

...where we meet with MPA management committee to discuss management of their resources

Mangrove conservation.

With help from WWF, community of Hunda has built and maintains a mangrove nursery which houses roughly 3000 seedlings. Coastal areas are replanted with seedlings once they are big enough.

Marine Conservation in the Coral Triangle

http://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org/

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/coraltriangle/

http://worldwildlife.org/places/coral-triangle

http://www.conservation.org/global/marine/initiatives/oceanscapes/cti/pages/overview.aspx

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/asiaandthepacific/coraltriangle/overview/coral-triangle-initiative.xml

Websites for more information:

Life on Ghizo IslandGizo market = fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, crab, shells, seaweed, nuts, flowers, traditional foods, baked goods.

Diving the Tao Maru wreck.

- Japanese supply ship from WWII

Thank You for your attention. Tangio Tumas!