SOLOMON ISLANDS

Around 80% of the Solomon Islands are covered with tropical rainforest. Since the early 1980s, the timber industry has been a significant sector in the economy, contributing 20% of government revenues annually, and more than 50% of export revenues.

The Forest Act 1999 sets out the principal objectives of sustainable forest management, developing the timber industry to maximise benefits to Islanders, and ensuring rights to customary owners. Around 88% of land in the Solomon Islands is under customary ownership, although much of this is inaccessible.

In practice, many forests to not come under formal management plans, particularly outside harvesting periods. However, some NGO forestry projects have developed plans for their areas and a number of projects have achieved FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, which ensures effective management plans are in place.

The rate of harvesting on the Islands has far exceeded the sustainable capacity of the merchantable forests, and most projections estimate that these forests will be exhausted within the next decade. Conservation has not been given much attention, and the government has limited capacity to regulate logging. The timber industry has been surrounded by controversy involving logging-related conflicts with local communities, widespread destructive logging practices (such as high-grading, with little regard for the residual forest and the implications of degradation) by multinational companies, widespread illegal logging and allegations of corruption at all levels of government.

Recently, the government has made efforts to enforce greater control over logging, including the development of the National Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting, moratoriums on new licenses, repeals of unused licenses, and cancellation of concessions. However, these measures have had only limited success to date. The government currently lacks the administrative capacity and resources to address the challenge of reducing the degradation and exhaustion of the forests and identifying alternative sources of income.

The Solomon Islands will benefit from a US$13.7 million Australian fund, announced in August 2008, for Asia-Pacific nations. The Asia-Pacific Forestry Skills and Capacity Building Program will help tackle climate change by assisting countries in the region with forest management, combating illegal logging and boosting carbon storage in their forests.

DOCUMENTS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
01/04/2008	Securing the future: An alternative plan for Solomon Island forests and economy Comparing the value of industrial logging for round wood export and small-scale sawmilling for timber ...	Greenpeace
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01/01/2008	Forest anti-corruption advocacy in Asia-Pacific: Transparency International Strategy 2008-2012 The TI Forest Anti-Corruption Advocacy Programme (TI FAAP) addresses corruption as a primary driver of illegal ...	Transparency International
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27/04/2006	Solomon Islands, the untold story: Logging corruption ruins a Nation Report focusing on civil unrest and violence against property in the Solomon Islands as an example of ...	Masalai i Tokaut
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NEWS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
31/03/2013	New forestry battle in the Solomons Solomon Islands was on a downward spiral when an Australian-led intervention force landed in Honiara ...	Islands Business
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17/10/2012	Organised crime, illegal timber and Australia’s role in deforestation Illegal logging is booming, as criminal organisations tighten their grip on this profitable global industry. ...	The Conversation, Australia
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01/10/2012	Pacific Island ministers endorse regional REDD+ policy framework The 3rd Regional Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry, convened by the Secretariat of the ...	Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
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17/08/2012	Westpac denies role in illegal Solomons logging The Westpac Bank says claims by Australia’s Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon that it is financing illegal ...	Radio New Zealand News
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13/08/2012	Calls for Westpac to reassess Solomons logging loans The Australian Greens Party says it is looking for support for a parliamentary motion condemning Westpac ...	ABC Radio Australia
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28/07/2012	Westpac lends to firms tied to illegal logging The Australian bank that promotes itself as being among the world's greenest and most ethical is ...	Casey Weekly, Australia
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17/02/2012	SPC book on Pacific forests now available online A landmark book on the forests of the Pacific Islands, produced by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community ...	Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
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24/01/2012	'Peak timber' concerns in tropics Current tropical timber practices are not sustainable and nations should consider the "implications ...	BBC News
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08/05/2011	Solomons Forestry Minister believes illegal logging still big problem The Solomon Islands Forestry Minister, Bradley Tovosia, says that illegal logging remains a big concern ...	Radio New Zealand
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24/03/2011	Illegal logging companies operate in Isabel province A number of logging companies in Isabel province have conducted their operations illegally according ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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21/07/2010	We thrive on money from illegal logging If there’s one country that thrives on revenue received through illegal activities, it would be ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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24/04/2010	Nation survives on Illegal logging Solomon Islanders and their government have been surviving on monies derived from illegal logging activities ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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21/01/2010	PM says gov’t does not mishandle logging export Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua has rejected as unfair and misguided recent criticism of the Government ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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19/01/2010	Government decision on illegal logging irresponsible: TSI Transparency Solomon Islands, TSI, has labeled the Government irresponsible for its decision to simply ...	Solomon Times Online, Solomon Islands
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15/01/2010	Those that break our laws must pay the price A BIG applause to Customs & Excise officials. Their excellent work has resulted in the prevention ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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13/01/2010	Forestry department accused of issuing illicit licences Certain officers within the forestry department are claimed to have been giving out illegal logging licences ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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29/12/2009	Logging company told to pack up and leave A Malaysian logging company ‘Samling Sun’ currently operating in South Malaita was told to ...	Solomon Star, Solomon Islands
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16/09/2009	The U.S., Indonesia & forest trade Deforestation poses a serious threat to the natural environment, and many species of plants and animals. ...	Voice of America
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03/09/2009	US introduces new approach to combat illegal wood trade The United States has been intensifying regional dialogue with a number of Asia's wood exporting ...	The Jakarta Post
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30/07/2009	Fighting illegal logging in the Asia-Pacific The Rudd Government will invest more than $12.1 million in new projects to improve forest management ...	Teatro Naturale
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03/06/2009	Retailers mount campaign on timber promises Major hardware and furniture retailers are campaigning against the Federal Government for going weak ...	The Age, Australia
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01/12/2008	Conflict of Interest Solomon Islands - Viewpoint - I write in response to a letter dated 14th November 2008 by Hon. Silas ...	Solomon Star (Solomon Islands)
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26/09/2008	Turnbull's logging background raises questions SRAs Australia signs a United Nations treaty to combat illegal logging, the new opposition leader's ...	Radio Australia (Australia)
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21/04/2008	We CAN do something about logging problems Have people become too used to the problems illegal logging brings in the Solomon Islands? ...	Solomon Star (Solomon Islands)
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02/08/2007	Children paying big price for Solomon's logging industry Solomon Islands - Malaysian loggers are plundering the Solomon Islands for their timber and, as Michael ...	Taranaki Daily News (New Zealand)
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03/07/2007	The Great 'Illegal' Logging Swindle The campaign by environmentalist non-government organizations (ENGOs) against 'illegal' forestry ...	Commonwealth Forestry Association Newsletter
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23/05/2007	Solomons warned about unsustainable logging Honiara, Solomon Islands The International Monetary Fund is urging the Solomon Islands Government to ...	Pacific Islands Report (Hawaii)
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19/12/2006	Solomon Islands deputy premier resigns, leaves Cabinet Solomon Islands deputy prime minister resigned from his post Wednesday and also as the nation's ...	Intermational Herald Tribune
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09/09/2006	Loggers remain a law unto themselves No government in Papua New Guinea or the Solomon Islands has yet managed to tame the Malaysian-Chinese ...	Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
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14/07/2006	TTF brands PNG and Solomon timber as 'high risk' UK - The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has told its members that sourcing wood products made from timber ...	ITTO Tropical Timber Market Report
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21/04/2006	Greenpeace on campaign for Papua forest conservation Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior II has anchored at the Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port as ...	Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
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30/09/2005	ALP floats single Pacific market Australia - A Labor proposal for a "Pacific Community" - including a common market and a possible ...	Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
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