A Sustainable Forest Sector For The Next Decade

A Sustainable Forest Sector For The Next Decade

A one day-workshop looking at developing a “sustainable and viable forest sector in Solomon Islands for the next decade” was held for Government officials of the Ministry of Forestry and Research (MOFR) and other partners Thursday last week in Honiara.

The workshop entitled “Vision and Goals of Forest Development and Management Master Plan for the next decade” was sponsored by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and was facilitate by experts from a number of Korean Forestry institutions.

The workshop discussed a number of strategies including recovering and sustaining forest recourse, improving forest research development and information and statistical systems in the Solomon Islands. The Workshop was one of the proceedings under the project for the establishment of an Action Plan for forest recourse development and management in the Solomon Islands.

The project is Korea’s first grant aid project to the Solomon Islands, which is implemented by the National Forestry Cooperation Federation (NFCF) of Korea from January 2014 to June 2015.

NFCF expert Dr.Kwon oh-Bok, who unveiled the Master Plan, told participants that a sustainable and viable forest sector guaranteed not only economic and environmental benefits to communities but also forest for people’s wellbeing.

The four goals of the master plan; included the recovery and sustaining forest recourse, establishing a robust forestry industry, enhancing people’s socio-

economic wellbeing by increasing income and employment from forest activities, and providing the public with forest eco-services.

Dr. Shon Cheol-Ho, another forestry expert from the Republic of Korea said Solomon Islands needs to reforest at least 3,500ha per annum in order to have 100,000ha of man-made forests by 2035 which would be required to achieve the sustainability of forest resources in the country.

Dr Shon recommended 3 reforestation strategies; which included establishing a reforestation fund, designating a national tree planting day, and forming a reforestation corporation in Solomon Islands.

A third expert Mr. Kim Sung-Ho from Woo-Rim Co. whose work covered the action plan for improving Solomon Islands forest information and statistical system said a well integrated and managed information and statistical system will enhance research processes and administration of forest resources in Solomon Islands.

From his work, it is expected that forest information and statistics of the Ministry of Forest and Research (MOFR) is well integrated and managed, which would act as a basis for formulating and carrying out demand-based forest research policies and administration.

Permanent Secretary Barnabas Anga commended the experts for the Strategic and Visionary Action plans by KOICA and the workshop participants for their constructive and valuable inputs towards these plans.He also reminded participants that these initiatives will not only positively contribute to the development of Solomon Islands forest Sector but also towards national economic policies and strategies.

Participants were drawn from the KOICA country office, the MoFR and Eagon forest plantation Development Company.

ENDS

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