By 2030, develop and implement management and recovery plans for threatened species that currently lack such plans, and review, update and effectively implement all existing species management plans. Priority species and groups include:

• Dolphins
• Dugongs
• Marine turtles
• Sharks and rays
• Threatened species recorded for Solomon Islands on the IUCN Red List
• Tubi tree
• Kauri
• Rosewood
• Prehensile-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata)
• Santa Cruz ground dove
• Hornbills
• Birdwing butterflies
• Tuna species
• Other threatened species identified under fisheries, forestry, environment and other relevant sectoral legislation, policies and plans

Solomon Islands will continue to fulfil its commitments under relevant subregional, regional and international treaties, strategies and action plans for the conservation and sustainable management of threatened species. This will include strengthening the sustainable management of tuna fisheries, reducing bycatch and other adverse impacts on non-target species, and promoting appropriate incentives and investments that increase the economic and social benefits Solomon Islands receives from its tuna resources.

Urgent measures will be taken to reduce the human-induced extinction risk of known threatened wildlife, including turtles, dugongs, dolphins, sharks and rays, as well as threatened domesticated species and their wild relatives, native wild and cultivated plants, and other species of ecological, socioeconomic and cultural importance.

Conservation and recovery measures will include protecting and restoring critical habitats; reducing overharvesting, illegal take and trade; maintaining genetic diversity; supporting research, monitoring and species recovery programmes; and strengthening both in situ and ex situ conservation. Any use of wild species will be managed sustainably to secure long-term ecological, cultural and economic benefits for the people of Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands will also strengthen community-based and culturally appropriate measures for managing human–wildlife interactions, minimising conflict and promoting the safe coexistence of people and wildlife.

Main Policy Measures and Actions

To achieve National Target 4 by 2030, Solomon Islands will undertake the following policy measures and priority actions:

1. Establish a national threatened-species baseline and priority list
   • Compile and regularly update a national list and database of threatened, endemic, migratory and culturally or economically important species.
   • Harmonise information from the IUCN Red List, CITES, fisheries and forestry assessments, national research and traditional knowledge.
   • Identify each species’ conservation status, population trend, principal threats, critical habitats and management needs.
2. Develop, review and implement species management and recovery plans
   • Develop plans for priority species that currently have no approved management or recovery plans.
   • Review, update and implement existing plans for dolphins, dugongs, marine turtles, sharks and rays, tubi, kauri, rosewood, Corucia zebrata, Santa Cruz ground dove, hornbills, birdwing butterflies, tuna and other nationally threatened species.
   • Ensure each plan contains measurable objectives, responsible agencies, budgets, timelines and monitoring indicators.
   • Prepare multi-species plans where species share the same habitats, threats or management requirements.
3. Strengthen legislation, policies and institutional coordination
   • Review and strengthen relevant environmental, wildlife, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, biosecurity and protected-area legislation.
   • Update protected-species schedules and establish appropriate controls on harvesting, possession, transport, export and trade.
   • Establish a national threatened-species coordination mechanism involving MECDM, MFMR, MoFR, MAL, Biosecurity Solomon Islands, provincial governments, research organisations and customary land and sea owners.
   • Strengthen implementation of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act, which provides for wildlife protection and species management plans, including habitat protection. Solomon Islands NBSAP
4. Protect and restore critical habitats
   • Identify and map breeding, nesting, feeding, spawning, nursery and migration areas for priority species.
   • Protect these areas through protected areas, community-based resource management, locally managed marine areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.
   • Integrate threatened-species safeguards into environmental impact assessments, development consents, land-use plans, forestry operations, mining projects, infrastructure development and fisheries management.
   • Restore degraded forests, rivers, wetlands, mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs and other critical habitats.
5. Reduce overharvesting, bycatch and other direct pressures
   • Introduce or strengthen science-based harvest limits, seasonal closures, size limits, gear restrictions, no-take areas and species-specific protection measures.
   • Reduce the incidental capture of turtles, dolphins, sharks, rays, seabirds and other non-target species through improved fishing gear, handling procedures, observer coverage and electronic monitoring.
   • Prohibit or tightly control destructive and unsustainable harvesting practices.
   • Strengthen measures addressing habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, climate change, disease and illegal wildlife trade.
6. Promote sustainable tuna management and increase national benefits
   • Implement regional and international conservation and management measures applicable to tuna fisheries.
   • Reduce tuna-fishery bycatch and impacts on associated and dependent species.
   • Improve monitoring, control and surveillance of domestic and foreign fishing vessels.
   • Promote domestic processing, value addition, employment and equitable revenue generation from tuna resources.
   • Review incentives and subsidies to ensure that they support sustainable fishing and do not encourage overcapacity, overfishing or harmful practices.
   • Align implementation with the National Fisheries Policy, which addresses offshore, inshore and inland fisheries and aquaculture while seeking greater national value from tuna. Solomon Islands Government policy context
7. Maintain and restore genetic diversity
   • Assess the genetic diversity of priority native, cultivated and domesticated species and their wild relatives.
   • Support community seed banks, field gene banks, botanical gardens, nurseries, captive breeding and other appropriate ex situ conservation programmes.
   • Promote on-farm conservation of traditional crop varieties and locally adapted livestock.
   • Establish safeguards and scientifically sound protocols for captive breeding, translocation, rehabilitation and reintroduction.
   • Prevent genetic erosion and avoid inappropriate introduction or mixing of populations.
8. Strengthen research, monitoring and information management
   • Conduct regular population surveys and establish long-term monitoring programmes for priority species.
   • Develop a central national biodiversity information system accessible to responsible government agencies and approved partners.
   • Promote partnerships with universities, communities, regional organisations and conservation partners.
   • Apply scientific research and traditional ecological knowledge, with the free, prior and informed participation of knowledge holders.
   • Publish periodic national threatened-species status reports to support decision-making and national reporting.
9. Improve compliance and enforcement
   • Strengthen the capacity of environment, fisheries, forestry, customs, biosecurity and police officers to detect, investigate and prosecute wildlife offences.
   • Improve inspection at ports, airports, markets, logging sites and other points along wildlife trade chains.
   • Strengthen implementation of CITES requirements, including permits, non-detriment findings, reporting and controls on illegal trade.
   • Establish accessible community reporting systems for illegal killing, harvesting, possession and trade.
   • Apply proportionate penalties and ensure that repeat or serious offenders are held accountable.
10. Manage human–wildlife interactions and conflict

• Develop national guidelines and species-specific procedures for preventing and responding to human–wildlife conflict, including crocodile incidents.
• Establish community warning, reporting and rapid-response mechanisms in identified high-risk locations.
• Use education, spatial planning, habitat management and appropriate safety infrastructure to minimise risks to people and wildlife.
• Ensure responses prioritise human safety while avoiding unnecessary killing of wildlife.
• Record incidents and use the information to identify conflict hotspots and improve management intervention.

By taking into account the following consideration: 

• Preventing the human-induced extinction of known threatened species;
• Reducing the extinction risk and rate of species;
• Supporting the recovery and increased abundance of depleted native species;
• Maintaining and restoring genetic diversity within and between species populations;
• Protecting and restoring the habitats required for viable species populations;
• Strengthening ecosystem integrity, resilience and connectivity; and
• Managing human–wildlife interactions to support safe and sustainable coexistence.

Accordingly, the national target covers all three core elements of Global Target 4: species extinction and recovery, genetic diversity, and human–wildlife conflict management.

The following aspects are covered:

Halting human-induced species extinction and reducing extinction risk

The target provides for urgent conservation and recovery measures for known threatened, endemic, migratory and culturally or economically important species. It prioritises the development, review and implementation of management and recovery plans for species such as dolphins, dugongs, marine turtles, sharks and rays, tubi, kauri, rosewood, Corucia zebrata, Santa Cruz ground dove, hornbills, birdwing butterflies and threatened tuna species.

It also addresses the major causes of species decline, including habitat destruction, overharvesting, illegal trade, fisheries bycatch, pollution, invasive species and climate change.

Recovering and conserving threatened species

The target supports both species-specific and multi-species recovery programmes, including population surveys, protection of breeding and feeding areas, habitat restoration, sustainable harvesting controls, captive breeding, rehabilitation, translocation and reintroduction where scientifically appropriate.

Priority will be given to species identified through the IUCN Red List, CITES, national assessments and relevant fisheries, forestry, agriculture and environment legislation, policies and plans.

Maintaining and restoring genetic diversity

The target covers genetic diversity within and between populations of:

• Native and wild species;
• Traditional crops and cultivated native plants;
• Domesticated animals and locally adapted breeds;
• Wild relatives of crops and domesticated species; and
• Species of ecological, cultural and socioeconomic importance.

Promoting sustainable species management

The target addresses the sustainable harvesting, use and trade of wild species by strengthening harvest controls, seasonal closures, quotas, gear restrictions, protected areas, community-based resource management and monitoring and enforcement.

For tuna, the target includes sustainable fisheries management, reduction of bycatch, improved monitoring of fishing operations, value addition and increased economic and social benefits for Solomon Islands without undermining the long-term health of tuna stocks and associated species.

Protecting and restoring critical habitats

Although principally a species-focused target, it recognises that threatened species cannot recover without healthy habitats. It therefore covers the identification, protection and restoration of nesting, breeding, spawning, nursery, feeding and migration areas, including forests, rivers, wetlands, mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs and offshore marine ecosystems.

Managing human–wildlife interactions

The target covers measures to minimise human–wildlife conflict and promote coexistence. These include community education, early-warning and reporting systems, rapid-response procedures, spatial planning, research and species-specific safety measures, particularly for interactions involving crocodiles and other potentially dangerous wildlife.

Such measures will protect human life, livelihoods and property while avoiding unnecessary harm to wildlife.

Strengthening legislation, enforcement and institutional coordination

The target provides for stronger implementation and, where necessary, review of relevant wildlife, fisheries, forestry, protected-area, environment, agriculture and biosecurity legislation and policies. It also supports coordinated action among government agencies, provincial governments, customary land and sea owners, communities, research institutions, civil society and the private sector.

Respecting customary stewardship and traditional knowledge

The target recognises the essential role of customary landowners and sea owners in conserving species and habitats. It supports community-based management, traditional ecological knowledge, customary conservation practices, equitable participation and fair sharing of benefits arising from conservation and sustainable use.

Meeting regional and international commitments

Implementation will contribute to Solomon Islands’ obligations and commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES, relevant regional fisheries management arrangements and other applicable subregional, regional and international species-conservation agreements and strategies.

No non-state commitments towards this national Target.

1. Sustainable and predictable financing
   • Increase national budget allocations for threatened-species conservation and recovery.
   • Mobilise international financing through the GEF, bilateral and multilateral partners, regional organisations and conservation funds.
   • Establish dedicated funding for species management plans, field surveys, habitat restoration, enforcement and community conservation.
   • Develop appropriate incentives and benefit-sharing mechanisms for customary landowners and communities protecting priority species and habitats.
2. Technical expertise and capacity-building
   • Train government officers, provincial authorities, community rangers and local organisations in species identification, population assessment, recovery planning and monitoring.
   • Build specialist capacity in taxonomy, conservation genetics, veterinary care, marine science, forestry, captive breeding, rehabilitation and reintroduction.
   • Strengthen capacity to prepare CITES non-detriment findings and regulate wildlife trade.
3. Research, data and information systems
   • Conduct national assessments to establish population baselines, distribution, critical habitats, threats and genetic status of priority species.
   • Develop a central national threatened-species database linked to fisheries, forestry, agriculture, biosecurity and protected-area information.
   • Improve access to IUCN Red List information, spatial data, remote-sensing technology and long-term monitoring systems.
   • Document traditional ecological knowledge with the consent and participation of its customary holders.
4. Technology transfer and essential equipment
   • Secure appropriate technologies for wildlife surveys, genetic analysis, satellite tracking, acoustic monitoring, electronic fisheries monitoring and habitat mapping.
   • Provide patrol boats, vehicles, communications equipment, field equipment and data-management tools for monitoring and enforcement.
   • Improve facilities for plant propagation, seed banking, wildlife rehabilitation and appropriate ex situ conservation.
5. Strengthened institutions and coordination
   • Establish a national threatened-species technical working group involving MECDM, MFMR, MoFR, MAL, Biosecurity Solomon Islands, provincial governments, research institutions and community representatives.
   • Clarify institutional responsibilities for implementing and reporting on each species management plan.
   • Strengthen coordination between national and provincial authorities and customary land and sea owners.
   • Appoint or designate adequately resourced threatened-species officers within relevant ministries.
6. Legal and policy support
   • Review and update relevant legislation, regulations and protected-species schedules.
   • Develop national guidelines for species recovery planning, translocation, captive breeding, rehabilitation, reintroduction and human–wildlife conflict management.
   • Strengthen permitting, compliance, penalties and enforcement procedures relating to illegal harvesting and wildlife trade.
   • Integrate threatened-species safeguards into development planning and environmental impact assessment processes.
7. Community participation and livelihood support
   • Provide resources for community-based monitoring, conservation agreements and locally managed protected areas.
   • Support alternative livelihoods where conservation measures restrict customary or commercial harvesting.
   • Ensure the meaningful participation of customary landowners, sea owners, chiefs, women, young people and persons with disabilities.
   • Develop equitable arrangements for sharing benefits from conservation, research and sustainable use.
8. Enforcement and compliance capacity
   • Strengthen collaboration among environment, fisheries, forestry, customs, biosecurity and police authorities.
   • Increase surveillance and inspection at ports, markets, logging areas and fishing sites.
   • Provide training in evidence collection, investigation, prosecution and CITES enforcement.
   • Establish accessible community mechanisms for reporting wildlife offences and human–wildlife incidents.
9. Regional and international cooperation
   • Strengthen partnerships with SPREP, the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, the Pacific Community, Parties to the Nauru Agreement, CITES, IUCN, universities and conservation organisations.
   • Participate in regional programmes for migratory species, tuna management, bycatch reduction and wildlife trade control.
   • Facilitate exchanges of scientific information, expertise, technology and good practices among Pacific Island countries.

• Strengthen national capacity to report under the CBD, CITES and relevant regional fisheries and conservation agreements.

No additional explanation

No any other information