6 Mar 2018

New initiative to protect forests in Solomon Islands

From , 6:02 am on 6 March 2018

A new conservation initiative in Solomon Islands is hoping to show rural communities in Malaita Province that there are alternatives to logging.

Academics and conservation groups have set up the Ma'asina Greenbelt Initiative in the province's Are Are and Kwaio regions.

One of the project's founders, Edgar Pollard, told Koroi Hawkins he was approached by community leaders while undertaking research on Malaita.

He said the communities wanted to develop without destroying their forests.

Logging tracks run like scars across the face of a tropical rainforest on Malaita in Solomon Islands.

Logging tracks run like scars across the face of a tropical rainforest on Malaita in Solomon Islands. Photo: Photo supplied/Edgar Pollard - Patrick Pikacha - Felix Naitoro