Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands archipelago is comprised of six main islands and several hundred smaller islands and is the third largest archipelago in the South Pacific. Wide areas of the land mass are still largely unimpacted by human activities. 86 percent of the population lives in a rural setting with a high dependence on coastal marine ecosystems.

20 mangrove species and two hybrids have been reported in the Solomon Islands, extending over an estimated 64,200 ha. While the total area and the species diversity is higher than in most Pacific Island countries, larger areas of mangrove are limited due to the lack of suitable intertidal habitat.

Ten species of seagrass have been found in the Solomon Islands’ estuaries, coastal deep-water and reef areas. Most meadows occur in shallow waters and consist of one to up to six different species at a single location. According to estimations, Malaita province is home to just over half seagrass habitats.

Between 85 and 90 percent of the Solomon Islands land and inshore marine areas are customarily owned by village-based family groups. These clans depend primarily on the resources provided by these habitats for subsistence. They control rights of access, use and development of these resources.