The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology under the Environment and Conservation Division had handed 15 identification (ID) cards for Vuri Forest Conservation Area (VFCA) Rangers recently.
This important handing over was conducted on Friday, 25th July 2025, at GBR, Henderson, during the conclusion of the Ensuring Resilient Ecosystems and Representative Protected Areas in Solomon Islands (EREPA) Protected Area Governance and Management Effectiveness Assessment Workshop.
EREPA Project is a national project with the objective to ‘ensure effective ecosystem management for healthy, complementary networks of protected, productive and restored landscapes in Guadalcanal, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona and Temotu Provinces. The Vuri Forest Conservation Area, with a forest cover of 574 hectares located in South Choiseul, was legally gazetted and declared as a protected area under the Protected Areas Act 2010 in March 2022.
Having rangers equipped with ID cards supports the enforcement powers and responsibilities of Protected Areas rangers, appointed by respective Management committees, expressed by the Protected Areas Regulations 2012 (Part 12). The issuance of the ID cards also marks the identity and authority of the VFCA Rangers as key forest protectors in the VFCA Protected Area. The IDs will facilitate their work in patrolling protected areas, enforcing management plan rules and regulations, and engaging with local tribes and communities to promote sustainable practices.
Speaking on behalf of the Director of the Environment and Conservation Division, Chief Conservation Officer, Ms Agnetha Vave-Karamui emphasized, “The formal ID cards not only recognise the hard work and dedication of the Vuri Rangers but also enhance their capacity to carry out their duties effectively and confidently. We are proud to support their important role in safeguarding our environment.”
The ‘handover event’ was witnessed by other Protected Area managers, traditional chiefs and leaders and practitioners from Temotu (Nende), Malaita (Kwaio and Are’are), Choiseul (Babatana), Guadalcanal (Tandai) Makira (Waihita and Pamahima) and East Rennell who attended the training workshop.
The Environment and Conservation Division reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Rangers and all initiatives that contribute to the protection, management, and restoration of the country’s biological diversity, ecosystems and natural resources.
There are currently 7 legally declared forest Protected Areas in country and work is in progress to complete the legal gazettal of more proposed forest protected areas.
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[MECDM Press]
