Managing Conflict

Managing Coastal Community Resource-Based Conflict and Advancing Forest Conservation

This is a project implemented with a tribal community of Choiseul province ‘Padezaka Tribe’ in Solomon Islands.

Ecosystem in areas of Choiseul is under immense stress from sedimentation, the rapid increase of large scale logging activities from logging companies and the lack of collaborative management between communities and resource owners. Tribal conflicts and increasing population are posing a significant risk to sustainable, community-based management of rich Forests. Much of the conflict derives from inability to build dialogue across communities and resource owners, difficulties in reaching agreements on sustainable use, lack of knowledge on how to manage and sustain forest resources, and indeed lack of good will.

The purpose of the project is to protect and conserve Padezaka Tribal Land Natural Forest Resources (PTLNFR) through establishment of a conservation and sustainable use area. Capacity building and forest conservation Educational awareness formed key parts of the programme. The project is implemented through live and learns environmental Education with collaboration of TNC, WWF, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Environment and Conservation.

What’s been done to strengthen Padezaka Tribal Community initiatives are:

• Education awareness workshops on the value of biodiversity
• Padezaka Tribal consultations and land use planning agreement for Sustainable Use Area
• Genealogy and land boundary consultation between tribal communities, chiefs and leaders
• Boundary mapping and GPS training activities involving partners
• Partnership engagement and capacity building support for communities
• Infrastructure development planning and construction in project site