BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
AS part of promoting ecosystem-based adaptation to climate, the Barana community of Central Guadalcanal province kick-started with planting trees and community clean-up while celebrating World Environment Day yesterday.
Villagers of the Barana community together with local and national leaders celebrated the World Environment Day yesterday under the theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
The event started with Solomon Islands Scouts doing environment expedition from Daviqori to plant trees around the sites of the Barana Community Nature Park and awareness talk at the school compound.
celebration.
Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management, GP Premier, SPREP and Hon Nano also took part in planting trees at the Barana primary school.
Representative from the SPC also handed over new rubbish bins to the community as part of promoting ecosystem, climate change resilience and management of environment.
Premier for Guadalcanal province Mr Anthony Veke welcomed the kind of support Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is implementing at Barana.
He said the project’s intention for climate change resilience will turn the community to focus on ecosystem which has been lost due to impact of climate change and other social and economic activities.
Veke also adds environment management which the Barana Community Natural Park focus on will leads to the sustainability of the livelihood of Barana people from now and future.
With the theme, Veke said it is relevant to the current status of Solomon Islands especially Guadalcanal province which is the hub of plastic pollution.
“This theme is most relevant to Solomon Islands, Honiara, Guadalcanal and more so people of Tandai in which Barana community located which they are forefront to pollution of plastics and all socio-environment issues in Honiara city,” Veke said.
SPREP-PEBACC Country Manager Mr Fred Siho Patison said celebration of World Environment Day at the Barana Community Nature Park is part of its campaign and awareness activities.
He said that is to promote climate change resilience through nature based solution and the nature park focuses on community natural resources and watershed management.
The SPREP-PEBACC thanked the GP, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management, SPC-GEF 6 R2R, SI Scouts, SIVB, Barana Community, Island Sun and SINU.
