BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Babatana Rangers in South Choiseul have completed a five-day training program held at the Lauru Training and Resource Centre (LRTC).
Babatana is located along the Kolombangara River within the Mount Maetambe-Kolombangara River Corridor, an area well-known for its rich biodiversity and home to the Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project.
The region also supports several surrounding villages that benefit from the conservation initiative.
The training, conducted by the Solomon Islands Rangers Association, aims to strengthen rangers’ knowledge and skills in managing the Babatana Protected Area.
Participants were introduced to their roles and responsibilities and learned how to effectively safeguard natural resources and biodiversity within their communities.
Over the five days, rangers covered a wide range of topics, including:
- Management of Protected Areas and Marine Protected Areas.
- Leadership in conservation work.
- Effective communication strategies with local communities.
- Health, safety, and first aid protocols.
- Environmental incident reporting and emergency response.
- Conflict resolution and issue management in Protected Areas.
- Basic fieldwork, surveys, and data collection methods.
The program was made possible with support from the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
The Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project continues to play a key role in preserving one of Choiseul’s most important ecological corridors, while empowering local rangers to take the lead in community-based conservation.
Photo: Supplied
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