Adapting to Climate Change in the Solomon Islands

By Jake Cohen

Visitors to Choiseul—a remote province of the Solomon Islands inhabited by around 20,000 people — are rare.

But, nearly nine years ago, The Nature Conservancy received a warm welcome in the region, traditionally known as Lauru, when it responded to requests for guidance on protecting the community’s natural resources.

Since then, Choiseul has become a model of the Conservancy’s work in the Coral Triangle and Pacific, a place where locals are making their lands and waters more resilient to the effects of climate change. Recently, community leaders unanimously adopted a set of ambitious conservation goals — recommended by the Conservancy — marking an important milestone for Choiseul.

Climate change imperils the natural resources that residents of the Solomon Islands depend on for food and income. But Choiseul is proactively tackling climate change impacts by adopting conservation strategies that will safeguard those resources—and their futures.

“We’re honored to be partnered with Lauru’s communities.” says Willie Atu, the Conservancy’s Solomon Islands Program Manager. “We’re happy to be using our expertise in conservation planning to respond to their needs and their desire to adapt to the threats of climate change.”

Read the whole story on nature.org.