BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Communities on Marauiapa Island in Guadalcanal Province received practical training in mangrove restoration and marine resource management as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience and protect coastal ecosystems.
The Guadalcanal Province Fisheries Division said the training workshop, organised by the Guadalcanal Province Fisheries Division under the IUCN–Kiwa Initiative Local Project Component (LPC), focused on nature-based solutions, climate resilience, mangrove seedling collection, and the establishment of community mangrove nurseries.
The initiative forms part of the Division’s broader Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM) Programme, which is being expanded across Guadalcanal Province to improve sustainable fisheries management and biodiversity conservation.
Participants were provided with hands-on training in mangrove conservation and restoration techniques, equipping them with practical skills to support future environmental rehabilitation projects within their communities.
A key outcome of the workshop is the collection of at least 300 mangrove seedlings and the establishment of community-managed mangrove nurseries that will supply seedlings for future restoration activities.
According to the Guadalcanal Province Fisheries Division, the training intends to strengthen local capacity in environmental management and promote community ownership of marine and coastal resources.
The workshop also aims to encourage greater participation by young people in conservation efforts and increase awareness of the important role mangrove ecosystems play in protecting coastlines, supporting fisheries, and reducing the impacts of climate change.
Marauiapa Island is one of the project sites supported under the IUCN–Kiwa Local Project on Nature-Based Community Fisheries Management for Climate Resilience and Biodiversity Restoration.
The project seeks to improve community livelihoods and socio-economic well-being while enhancing biodiversity conservation throughout Guadalcanal Province.
The training was delivered by the Guadalcanal Province Fisheries Division with technical and financial support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) through the IUCN–Kiwa Initiative.
The programme is funded by a consortium of development partners and implemented by the Guadalcanal Provincial Government in partnership with local communities, with the goal of strengthening climate resilience, restoring biodiversity, and promoting sustainable management of marine resources across the province.
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