BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
THE Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association (KIBCA) has been praised for its outstanding work in advancing conservation initiatives in Western Province.
Over the past year, KIBCA has played a crucial role in facilitating the registration of three proposed Protected Areas, a major step towards safeguarding the island’s rich biodiversity.
According to information received, the three Protected Area proposals are currently progressing at different stages of the approval process.
The Epanga–Korapa–Tusa Protected Area proposal is the most advanced.
It has successfully completed the objection process and has been re-submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) for government endorsement.
Official declaration of the protected area is anticipated later this year.
Meanwhile, the Kiuwai Protected Area proposal has completed its verification activities and is expected to enter the public notification phase soon.
The required 30-day public notice period is expected to pave the way for its final gazettal.
Igoana Protected Area proposal, which was most recently submitted, has completed provincial endorsement and management plan reviews. It is now under review by MECDM.
KIBCA’s efforts have been widely acknowledged as a significant contribution to community-based conservation and sustainable resource management on Kolombangara Island, reinforcing local and national commitments to environmental protection.
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