Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) under Ensuring Resilient Ecosystems and Representative Protected Areas in Solomon Islands (EREPA) Protected Area concluded three days’ workshop on Assessment and Evaluation of Protected Areas Governance and Management system at Henderson GBR compound recently.
The workshop aimed to introduce Solomon Islands Protected Areas Management Effectiveness Tracking System (SIPAMETS) to Protected Area managers and community leaders. To that the workshop also wanted to assess and evaluate the governance and management attributes of formal Protected Areas (PAs) and identify their strengthens and areas that need improvement using SIPAMETS tool; test the SIPAMETS tool and identify and changes pertinent for the improvement of the tool; and encourage peer to peer leaning amongst PA management committee members between formal and upcoming PAs.
Speaking during the workshop EREPA Chief Technical Advisor, Doctor Kristina Fidali said formal declarations of Protected Areas (PAs) are important but their effective and equitable management is also very crucial in order to achieve sustainable and resilient PA networks in Solomon Islands. Presently, there is no standard evaluation tool or system in place to carry out assessment and evaluation of PA governance and management effectiveness in the country.
Meanwhile, the status of governance and management of formally declared have not been systematically reported on, and therefore the management effectiveness of declared PAs is unknown.
Dr. Fidali stated “to address gaps identified, EREPA Project has developed the Solomon Islands Protected Areas Management Effectiveness Tracking System (SIPAMETS).
“The SIPAMETS is a new tool and is the process of testing and review for improvement of the tool. Using this SIPAMETS tool, EREPA is conducting an evaluation of existing PAs to benchmark project performance and to inform the development of Protected Areas Network roadmap”. Dr. Fidali stated.
The outcome of the workshop was the production of management effectiveness reports for the eight formal PAs using SIPAMET tool; and the collation of insights and emphasis on the need to establish Protected Area Network in Solomon Islands and also to strengthen peer to peer learning amongst protected area managers and community leaders.
Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Chiefs and Protected Area Managers, Paramount Chief of Tadai Ward Mr. Peter Araiasi Sagelivera acknowledged the Government through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) under EREPA project for the great initiative put in place for all PA managers around the country.
“This SIPAMETS will encourage peer to peer learning amongst PA management committee members between formal and upcoming PAs which l am one of them to be proud of especially inside my PA within Tadai ward West Guadalcanal”. Sagelivera said.
This SIPAMETS tool will make work easier for Protected Area managers and rangers to do their work effectively.
Attendees of the three-day workshop facilitated by MECDM under EREPA project team were, Protected Area Managers, Traditional Chiefs and leaders and Practitioners from Temotu (Nende) Malaita (Kwaio & Are’Are) Choiseul (Babatana), Guadalcanal (Tadai), Marika (Waihita & Pamahima) and East Rennell.
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[MECDM]
