BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
A deliberately lit fire at Bloody Ridge National Historical Park on Wednesday, 24 June, has destroyed nearly 90 per cent of a reforestation project, wiping out thousands of young trees and two years of restoration work, park management says.
According to the park official, the blaze started at multiple locations within the site during very dry and windy conditions, rapidly spreading across the plantation area. The fire also came close to reaching a nearby village west of the park before being contained.
He said the destroyed reforestation area had been developed over two years through the efforts of Solomon Islands National University (SINU) students, park rangers, and local women’s groups.
He described the incident as a deliberate act of arson and said it is part of a pattern of repeated attempts to set fires in the same area.
He said earlier incidents in early June were also successfully contained by rangers working with limited manpower and no dedicated firefighting equipment.
“No one has been identified. The fires appear to have been started simultaneously at multiple points. We will report the matter to the police, and surveillance at the site will be increased,” he said.
The official suggested that tensions may be linked to restrictions on activities inside the protected area, including bans on alcohol and commercial traffic.
He adds that most surrounding communities support the park’s conservation efforts.
“Despite the destruction, rangers have vowed to continue restoration work. We will replant. We will restore what has been lost. The park will not be deterred from its conservation goals,” the officer said.
Bloody Ridge National Historical Park, a key heritage and conservation site in Solomon Islands, has faced ongoing challenges balancing environmental protection with local community pressures.
Photo: Supplied
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