1. Solomon Islands
October 2015
Colombo, Sri Lanka

2. Biophysical and demographic characteristics
992 islands
Total land area – 28,000km2
Total sea area – 1,340,000km2
Total coral reef area – 3,591km2
Total mangrove area – 65,000ha
Total seagrass area – 10,000ha
80% of land in the Solomon Islands is under Customary Tenure, and is recognized in the Constitution.

3. Previous Studies
Survey for dugong sightings/occurrence in 6 Provinces (2009, dugong Surveys of the SI)
North-east Choiseul,
Honiara bay,
Malaita,
Marovo Lagoon
Isabel Province
Western Province.
Previous Studies
– Womersley & Bailey – identify 7 species
– SI Rapid Ecological Assessments (Mckenzie et al.2006)
10 spp. confirmed (80% known species in region)
Largest seagrass meadow found in Malaita Province (>1000ha)
Declining population of dugongs (comparing past to present) – observations/perspective studies carried out in Pressures include: local harvesting for food;/sell for income; loss of sea grass & important habitats cf. pollution/sedimentation; incidental/hunt kills.
(Deborah Bass, 2009 “Dugong Survey of the Solomon Islands”, Conservation International) 3

4. Dugong information
In some places in the Solomons, dugongs are revered as tribal totems, and have cultural stories attached to them. As such, they are not eaten.
In most places, they are not actively hunted, rather, they are taken opportunistically

5. Seagrass information
No broad scale mapping of seagrass with ground truthing has been conducted in the Solomon Islands. The last rapid ecological survey was conducted in 2004
Seagrass distribution in the Solomon Islands is estimated to be 66.3 ±14.5km2. This makes 6% of seagrass estimated in the Melanesian region
10 species identified in the SIREA (2004)
Largest seagrass meadow found in Malaita Province (>1000ha)

6. Issues Blue Carbon- Seagrass Bio-research, Spatial mapping
Centralized Database (Inform Project)
Community management plans for dugongs & seagrass
Enforcement in national, provincial & community level
Education & Awareness
Policy
Ecosystem Services Valuation

7. Tagio Tumas