BY JUNELYN KELLY
The Guadalcanal Provincial Government under the leadership of premier Willie Atu has allocated a total of $400,000 under its 2026/2027 appropriation budget to support conservation and environmental programs in Guadalcanal.
A statement from Guadalcanal Provincial Government, said $150,000 is specifically designated for community-based forest rangers, while $250,000 will fund broader environmental and conservation initiatives.
John Stewart, Guadalcanal Province Minister for Finance and Treasury announced that this is the first time for the provincial government to provide direct financial support to community-based forest rangers.
“It is high time for the provincial government to support the noble work of these community-based forest rangers for their tremendous contributions in protecting the last remaining forests of Guadalcanal.
“The allocation is minimal, but the Atu Government is stepping in the right direction to assist our rural communities to ensure they take full responsibilities in the environmental conservation sector”, he said.
He said currently, there are 15 active community-based forest rangers’ group in Guadalcanal affiliated with the Solomon Islands Rangers Association (SIRA).
The funding will be made available to registered groups under the Charitable Trust Act or SI Rangers, with proposals required to align with the government’s environmental policies to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
SI rangers program Manager Mr Edward Huitarau welcomed the initiative and said that Guadalcanal province is the first in the country to formally recognise and financially support community-based rangers.
He added that the move sets a precedent for other provincial governments to follow and to strengthen ongoing collaboration between SI rangers and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government.
In addition, the government emphasised that the funding aims to strengthen environmental conservation efforts and to promote sustainable development while preserving Guadalcanal Provincial’s natural heritage for future generations.
Photo credit: GPG
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