BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The Aarahau Forest Protected Area Association in Taripiri, East Are’are, Malaita Province, has submitted its boundary map of the proposed protected area and land use plan this month.
The final submission of the Forest Protected Area documents was made after a one-day Land Use Plan Verification Workshop was held in East Are’are.
According to the association, the final submission of their required documents marks the end of a four-year struggle and is a historical milestone for the association.
The association aims to empower indigenous resource owners, protect local biodiversity, and develop sustainable livelihoods that offer ethical alternatives to environmentally destructive industries like logging.
“This workshop marks the successful conclusion of those years of hard work, dialogue, and collaboration.
“This marks a historic milestone for the Aarahau Forest Protected Area Association, a journey that has taken four years in the making.
“This special event has brought together chiefs from five neighboring tribes to witness the official endorsement of the Aarahau Forest Protected Area boundary map and land use plan,” the association said.
The association expressed its gratitude to its funders, the USAID Scale FDF grant and Mai-Maasina Green Belt.
“On behalf of the Aarahau Forest Protected Area Association, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Mai-Maasina Green Belt for funding this event and making this great success possible for the Aarahau tribal members.
“Together, we protect our forests for the future,” the statement said.
The Solomon Islands Ranger Association also handed uniforms to the Aarahau Forest Protected Area Association this month.
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