The Atu Government has allocated a total of $400,000 under the Appropriation Budget 2026/2027 for conservation and environmental programs on Guadalcanal.
According to Hon. John Stewart, Guadalcanal Province’ Minister for Finance and Treasury, the budget allocation is the first of its kind for Guadalcanal community based forest rangers.
The $150,000 is allocated for community-based forest rangers, and $250,000 is allocated on general conservation and environmental community initiatives.
Minister Stewart stated “It is high time for the provincial government to support the noble work of these community based forest rangers for their tremendous contributions in protecting the last remaining forests of Guadalcanal”.
He added “the allocation is minimal, but the Atu Government is stepping in the right direction to assist our rural communities to ensure they take full responsibilities in the environmental conservation sector”.
There are 15 established active community-based forest rangers in Guadalcanal which are also affiliated under the Solomon Islands Rangers Association (SIRA) also known as SI Rangers.
These community-based forest rangers are volunteers. Their primary focuses are active field-monitoring on illegal logging activities and poachers, community awareness on biodiversity importance, preservation of cultural shrines, and other conservation initiatives.
They play vital roles in conserving the rich biodiversity and important natural ecosystems which are vital for human survival on Guadalcanal.
The budget allocation for the community-based forest rangers requires that they must be registered under the Charitable Trust Act or under the SI Rangers.
They’re encouraged to make submissions which are aligned to the Atu Government environment and conservation policy objectives. This is to ensure the public fund is being utilized for its intended purposes through accountable and transparent manners.
SI Rangers Program Manager in the country, Mr. Edward Huitarau, has acknowledged the Atu Government for recognizing the important needs to support the Guadalcanal community-based rangers.
He stated that Guadalcanal Province is the first provincial government to financially recognize its community-based forest rangers. He thanked the Atu Government for paving the way for other provincial governments to follow suit.
GP Media understands that SI Rangers had launched two handbooks; ‘Rangers’ Guide to Natural Resources Laws in the Solomon Islands: Your Roles, Your Rights’, and the ‘Facilitator’s Handbook’ which were attended by Guadalcanal community-based rangers, Guadalcanal Provincial Government representatives, Environment and Conservation Division (ECD), and other conservation stakeholders in July last year.
Mr. Huitarau stated that SI Rangers will continue to work closely with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government to ensure that these community-based rangers will carry out their noble work.
According to Minister Stewart “The budget provides resources to strengthen environmental conservation efforts, including ranger programs and community-based resource management initiatives”.
He concluded, “These measures are essential to ensure that development is sustainable and that our natural heritage is preserved for future generations.”
The Atu Government is the first government to financially support the community-based rangers in Guadalcanal since the establishment of the Provincial Government.
