Carbon Assessment Data to Support National Conservation Efforts in the Solomon Islands

Part of the field team with Chubikopi community representative undertaking the carbon stock assessment in mangroves in Marovo Lagoon, Western Province. Picture: SUPPLIED

19 February 2025 – A comprehensive carbon stock assessment conducted in the Solomon Islands will be crucial to understanding the current state of the nation’s blue carbon ecosystems and their contributions to climate change mitigation.

The assessment, a key component of the Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (MACBLUE) project, sampled more than 350 mangroves from various sites in three provinces Malaita, Western, and Isabel. These specimens, alongside soil samples, were flown to Australia for further analysis.

The assessment was led by a team from Alluvium International, in partnership with national experts from the Solomon Island’s Ministry of Forestry and Research and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology.

The information gathered will contribute to the development of inventories of the country’s natural capital and assist Solomon Islands in refining its conservation, management, and rehabilitation efforts. The final results will be published in a National Carbon Stock Assessment report in August this year.

"The report will provide essential data that will help the Solomon Islands make informed decisions about the protection and restoration of our valuable mangrove and seagrass habitats," said MACBLUE Project Coordinator, Ms Turang Teuea.

“The MACBLUE Project not only provides scientific data but also builds local capacity to manage and protect our blue carbon ecosystems for future generations.”

During the field assessment, the team documented the alarming state of a ‘mangrove graveyard’ on Sasa Hura Island, where a significant number of mangrove trees were destroyed due to the impacts of El Niño.

The team’s findings highlighted the urgent need for adaptive management strategies to address these challenges and protect mangrove ecosystems.

"The field team witnessed on Sasa Hura Island a reminder of the growing challenges posed by climate change, It is more important than ever that we take decisive action to safeguard these ecosystems, which are essential for both climate resilience and local livelihoods,” said Ms Teuea.

The assessment was conducted in November 2024. A training workshop for government officials followed in December, focusing on the principles of blue carbon ecosystems, including topics on the carbon content of seagrasses and mangroves and carbon stock assessment methodologies, the impacts of mangrove degradation, and the process of carbon auditing.

The results of this carbon stock assessment will play a crucial role in supporting the Solomon Islands' efforts towards global climate action, and helping to ensure that the country’s blue carbon ecosystems are better equipped to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

*Re-published from SPREP website.