BY INDY MAEALASIA
A research carried out in Marovo Lagoon, Western province has revealed that women and youths are significantly more involved in mangrove conservation efforts compared to men.
The findings, led by Dr Mary Tahu, a researcher and lecturer at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), has underscored the critical role that these groups play in mangrove restoration initiatives.
“According to our research, more women including youths respond higher to existing mangrove restoration and replanting initiatives compared to men,” she said.
Tahu said that this commitment aligns with the roles women often hold within their families and communities, stressing their involvement in safeguarding vital marine resources.
“We see that more women and youths support the idea of protecting and managing mangroves, which also comes back to the role of women in the family, in the community, and especially in trying to protect and manage mangroves,” she said.
The findings also revealed that women have also called for greater protection and sustainable management of mangroves,
“This call can be effective when there are existing laws or policies on managing mangrove ecosystem and also reserving certain mangrove zones for conservation,” she said.
Acknowledging this, Tahu emphasized the need for gender-inclusive climate action that integrates indigenous knowledge and supports equitable participation across all levels—local, national, and regional.
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