BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

AUSTRALIAN saltwater crocodile specialist Dr Matthew Brien has introduced a concept which was successfully implemented in Australia to manage saltwater crocodiles.

From the concept Solomon Islands may learn from the idea to reduce conflict between humans and crocodiles and conserve crocodile species for other economic benefits.

Solomon Islands along with Papua New Guinea and Northern Territory of Australia have high populations of saltwater crocodile, which poses a dangerous environment for humans.

In a workshop recently, Brien shared Australia’s management concept to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

He said the concept is successfully used in Australia, and it really minimises the conflict between humans and saltwater crocodiles which Solomon Islands can learn from.

Brien adds, the concept might not be similar to Solomon Islands but some are relevant in terms of managing the species from hurting people and conserving them for trading.

“In Australia we manage crocodile not similar to Solomon Islands, so in the Solomon’s they started monitoring, removal and education—three very important thing which Australia we also doing.

“We also do farming and trade and Solomon’s have the potential to do some trade as well.

“I think there is similar ways to do it but there are differences between Australia and Solomon Islands. Australia is a big island and you can move around pretty easily whereas in the Solomon’s a lot of Islands and it’s hard to move around.

“A lot of challenges here but you can still do some stuff and I think some of the work has been done is very positive.”

Brien commended the RSIPF saying they’ve done a very good job by working with communities across Solomon Islands to reduce the conflict between crocs and humans.

On the other hand, Brien also acknowledged the MECDM and WorldFish for joining forces in the Crocodile Management Project, saying they are moving in the right direction.

Deputy Director for Conservation Division of the MECDM Mr Josef Hurutarau said saltwater crocodile has been a priority of successive Solomon Islands Governments policies.

He said increasing crocodile-human conflicts is of concern which ignites government’s attention of need to conduct survey and development of National Management Plan.

“The MECDM corporate plan 2018—2020 highlights saltwater crocodile population surveys as an important priority output,” he said.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

TWO days interface of stakeholders under the “Auki market business fair” will end today in Auki.

The programme came under Markets for Change (M4C) project aimed at gathering financial institutions, agricultural institutions and social services to provide information sharing to vendors.

Team Leader Inclusive Growth under UNDP, Ms Ednah Ramoau said the purpose was that market vendors normally don’t access the information due to tight schedule with their market/business.

She said the vendors spend most of their time at the market. From garden to the market to do their sell and back to their homes.

Ramoau said with this they always not accessing information from service providers in the community which is important for them.

“So this Auki market business fair is providing an avenue where market vendors can hear information from other stakeholders on their activities.

“The importance of the information sharing was that it give them idea and way to pursue these stakeholders when need arises to them,” she said.

Ramoau said numbers of stakeholders now giving information to the vendors and they expect to continue tomorrow (today) and other stakeholders also encourage.

She said the programme also roll out in Honiara, Auki and Gizo, saying the programme is a regional one where it also rolls out in other countries in the region.

Ramoau said M4C programme was implemented by UN Women, but they offered it to UNDP to implement the outcome two of the programme.

She said the programme is funded by Australian Government and Canadian Government.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SALTWATER crocodile across the Pacific region is facing challenges with reproduction due hotter temperatures as a result of climate change.

IUCN Crocodile specialist from Australia Dr Matthew Brien, who is here for a workshop on crocodile management project, said climate change can have a huge impact on a lot of animals, species or ecological system.

He said risk is very sensitive with the temperature changes, and when it comes to crocodiles, it can have an effect on its nesting.

Brien said in Australia as a result of climate change now saltwater crocodiles can only be found in southern parts where it is cooler.

He said they may start to move down into further southern Australia if the temperature is high to several degrees Celsius; the nest temperature determines the sex babies—32 degree Celsius we get male.

He adds, in hotter temperatures two things will happen in determining the sex of the offspring ‘but there will be higher mortality of crocs because it’s too hot’.

“So effective climate change would affect the range of temperature and in the hotter areas it may cause more mortality on nests,” he said.

According to Solomon Islands’ Government priority, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology is working on a corporate plan 2018—2020.

The plan has setup priority areas that focus on biodiversity research and non-detrimental findings for species conservation and management including crocodiles.

In terms of climate change, SIG in the 49th annual meeting of Pacific Island Forum Leaders hosted by Nauru, SIG signed the Boe Declaration, reaffirming country’s commitment towards climate change.

SIG has reiterate that climate change remains single greatest threat to the livelihood, security and wellbeing of the pacific people which including Solomon Islands.