Part of the central Solomon Islands island arc is uncommonly vulnerable to a range of geohazards ... more Part of the central Solomon Islands island arc is uncommonly vulnerable to a range of geohazards that are related to the southwards convergence of the Pacific Plate along the North Solomons Trench. Among these hazards is likely to be collapses of the flanks of islands resulting from the steep angles, perhaps triggered by earthquakes. A study of oral traditions in the area, principally on the islands Ulawa, Makira and Maramasike (eastern Malaita), targeted those relating to islands alleged to have disappeared. The most widespread tradition refers to Teonimanu that probably slipped down the sides of the wall of the nearby Cape Johnson Trench. Another tradition refers to the Ta’aluapuala group that may have, by analogy with geophysical observations, sunk in the area off northeast Maramasike. Other traditions may refer mostly to low sand islands washed away by large waves. It is clear that the study of myths has much to contribute to an understanding and assessment of geohazards in part...
Here we examine the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the Arnavon Islands Community ... more Here we examine the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the Arnavon Islands Community Marine Conservation Area (ACMCA) which was first established in 1995. We review relevant literature and use material from interviews conducted with 28 key informants, all of whom have had a significant involvement in the ACMCA at some stage. The ACMCA aims to conserve all species inhabiting the Arnavon Islands, but the primary inspiration for funding the work has been the presence of a large hawksbill turtle rookery on the islands. The turtles, were recognised as seriously threatened by hunting by the 1960s, and became the focus of systematic research and protection efforts by the mid- 1970s. After initial conservation failures, the government scientists and conservationists recognised that they needed to involve the adjacent communities of Kia, Wagina and Katupika in the conservation project in order for it to succeed. A coordinated process of consultation and negotiation therefore commenced in the early 1990s and culminated in the establishment of the ACMCA in 1995. A national ban on the export of hawksbill shells (‘bekko’ or ‘tortoiseshell’) was also enacted into law in 1993. Recent analysis of long term data on the hawksbill nesting population at Arnavons by Hamilton and collaborators (2015) has demonstrated unequivocally that there has been significant recovery. This review has been commissioned to examine the primary reasons for this, along with remaining challenges and lessons learned thus far from the experience. Along with most of our interviewees, we are unable to separate the importance of the spatial protection that the ACMCA has afforded nesting female hawksbills, from the broader protective effects of the ban on bekko exports that was implemented two years prior to the commencement of the spatial protection. Both are likely to have been important. However recent data shows that most of the 20 nesting hawksbill females, fitted with satellite trackers in the last two years at Arnavons swam almost directly to the relative safety of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. This means that, whilst in the Solomon Islands, the protection afforded by the ACMCA may be more significant than the bekko export ban because the turtles do not move around the rest of the Solomon Islands. The great majority of our interviewees stressed that there has been a steady increase in local acceptance of the desirability of preventing overharvesting of turtles and other marine resources at Arnavons. But poverty, the failure of a seaweed farming project at Wagina, and the existence of a lucrative black market for bekko will continue to drive a small number of people, particularly at Wagina, to continue poaching turtle, which means that the maintenance of the ranger station on Kerehikapa Island in the Arnavons is important for continued conservation. There has also been a significant increase in appreciation of the intrinsic or existence value of turtles among many members of the ACMCA communities. This appears to have been largely driven by increased knowledge about them, which can be credited to the efforts of a number of conservationists who have shared their scientific knowledge of turtles and other marine fauna to community stakeholders. Community members expressed their appreciation of learning about the biology and ecology of the protected fauna, as well as their desire to learn more. They requested that all visiting scientists in future make greater efforts to engage with the communities to share their research findings and explain their interests to the community.
Part of the central Solomon Islands island arc is uncommonly vulnerable to a range of geohazards ... more Part of the central Solomon Islands island arc is uncommonly vulnerable to a range of geohazards that are related to the southwards convergence of the Pacific Plate along the North Solomons Trench. Among these hazards is likely to be collapses of the flanks of islands resulting from the steep angles, perhaps triggered by earthquakes. A study of oral traditions in the area, principally on the islands Ulawa, Makira and Maramasike (eastern Malaita), targeted those relating to islands alleged to have disappeared. The most widespread tradition refers to Teonimanu that probably slipped down the sides of the wall of the nearby Cape Johnson Trench. Another tradition refers to the Ta’aluapuala group that may have, by analogy with geophysical observations, sunk in the area off northeast Maramasike. Other traditions may refer mostly to low sand islands washed away by large waves. It is clear that the study of myths has much to contribute to an understanding and assessment of geohazards in part...
Here we examine the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the Arnavon Islands Community ... more Here we examine the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the Arnavon Islands Community Marine Conservation Area (ACMCA) which was first established in 1995. We review relevant literature and use material from interviews conducted with 28 key informants, all of whom have had a significant involvement in the ACMCA at some stage. The ACMCA aims to conserve all species inhabiting the Arnavon Islands, but the primary inspiration for funding the work has been the presence of a large hawksbill turtle rookery on the islands. The turtles, were recognised as seriously threatened by hunting by the 1960s, and became the focus of systematic research and protection efforts by the mid- 1970s. After initial conservation failures, the government scientists and conservationists recognised that they needed to involve the adjacent communities of Kia, Wagina and Katupika in the conservation project in order for it to succeed. A coordinated process of consultation and negotiation therefore commenced in the early 1990s and culminated in the establishment of the ACMCA in 1995. A national ban on the export of hawksbill shells (‘bekko’ or ‘tortoiseshell’) was also enacted into law in 1993. Recent analysis of long term data on the hawksbill nesting population at Arnavons by Hamilton and collaborators (2015) has demonstrated unequivocally that there has been significant recovery. This review has been commissioned to examine the primary reasons for this, along with remaining challenges and lessons learned thus far from the experience. Along with most of our interviewees, we are unable to separate the importance of the spatial protection that the ACMCA has afforded nesting female hawksbills, from the broader protective effects of the ban on bekko exports that was implemented two years prior to the commencement of the spatial protection. Both are likely to have been important. However recent data shows that most of the 20 nesting hawksbill females, fitted with satellite trackers in the last two years at Arnavons swam almost directly to the relative safety of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. This means that, whilst in the Solomon Islands, the protection afforded by the ACMCA may be more significant than the bekko export ban because the turtles do not move around the rest of the Solomon Islands. The great majority of our interviewees stressed that there has been a steady increase in local acceptance of the desirability of preventing overharvesting of turtles and other marine resources at Arnavons. But poverty, the failure of a seaweed farming project at Wagina, and the existence of a lucrative black market for bekko will continue to drive a small number of people, particularly at Wagina, to continue poaching turtle, which means that the maintenance of the ranger station on Kerehikapa Island in the Arnavons is important for continued conservation. There has also been a significant increase in appreciation of the intrinsic or existence value of turtles among many members of the ACMCA communities. This appears to have been largely driven by increased knowledge about them, which can be credited to the efforts of a number of conservationists who have shared their scientific knowledge of turtles and other marine fauna to community stakeholders. Community members expressed their appreciation of learning about the biology and ecology of the protected fauna, as well as their desire to learn more. They requested that all visiting scientists in future make greater efforts to engage with the communities to share their research findings and explain their interests to the community.
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The ACMCA aims to conserve all species inhabiting the Arnavon Islands, but the primary inspiration for funding the work has been the presence of a large hawksbill turtle rookery on the islands. The turtles, were recognised as seriously threatened by hunting by the 1960s, and became the focus of systematic research and protection efforts by the mid-
1970s. After initial conservation failures, the government scientists and conservationists recognised that they needed to involve the adjacent communities of Kia, Wagina and Katupika in the conservation project in order for it to succeed.
A coordinated process of consultation and negotiation therefore commenced in the early 1990s and culminated in the establishment of the ACMCA in 1995. A national ban on the export of hawksbill shells (‘bekko’ or ‘tortoiseshell’) was also enacted into law in 1993.
Recent analysis of long term data on the hawksbill nesting population at Arnavons by Hamilton and collaborators (2015) has demonstrated unequivocally that there has been significant recovery. This review has been commissioned to examine the primary reasons for this, along with remaining challenges and lessons learned thus far from the experience.
Along with most of our interviewees, we are unable to separate the importance of the spatial protection that the ACMCA has afforded nesting female hawksbills, from the broader protective effects of the ban on bekko exports that was implemented two years prior to the commencement of the spatial protection. Both are likely to have been important.
However recent data shows that most of the 20 nesting hawksbill females, fitted with satellite trackers in the last two years at Arnavons swam almost directly to the relative safety of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. This means that, whilst in the Solomon Islands, the protection afforded by the ACMCA may be more significant than the bekko export ban because the turtles do not move around the rest of the Solomon Islands.
The great majority of our interviewees stressed that there has been a steady increase in local acceptance of the desirability of preventing overharvesting of turtles and other marine resources at Arnavons. But poverty, the failure of a seaweed farming project at Wagina, and the existence of a lucrative black market for bekko will continue to drive a small number of people, particularly at Wagina, to continue poaching turtle, which means that the maintenance of the ranger station on Kerehikapa Island in the Arnavons is important for continued conservation.
There has also been a significant increase in appreciation of the intrinsic or existence value of turtles among many members of the ACMCA communities. This appears to have been largely driven by increased knowledge about them, which can be credited to the efforts of a number of conservationists who have shared their scientific knowledge of turtles
and other marine fauna to community stakeholders.
Community members expressed their appreciation of learning about the biology and ecology of the protected fauna, as well as their desire to learn more. They requested that all visiting scientists in future make greater efforts to engage with the communities to share their research findings and explain their interests to the community.
The ACMCA aims to conserve all species inhabiting the Arnavon Islands, but the primary inspiration for funding the work has been the presence of a large hawksbill turtle rookery on the islands. The turtles, were recognised as seriously threatened by hunting by the 1960s, and became the focus of systematic research and protection efforts by the mid-
1970s. After initial conservation failures, the government scientists and conservationists recognised that they needed to involve the adjacent communities of Kia, Wagina and Katupika in the conservation project in order for it to succeed.
A coordinated process of consultation and negotiation therefore commenced in the early 1990s and culminated in the establishment of the ACMCA in 1995. A national ban on the export of hawksbill shells (‘bekko’ or ‘tortoiseshell’) was also enacted into law in 1993.
Recent analysis of long term data on the hawksbill nesting population at Arnavons by Hamilton and collaborators (2015) has demonstrated unequivocally that there has been significant recovery. This review has been commissioned to examine the primary reasons for this, along with remaining challenges and lessons learned thus far from the experience.
Along with most of our interviewees, we are unable to separate the importance of the spatial protection that the ACMCA has afforded nesting female hawksbills, from the broader protective effects of the ban on bekko exports that was implemented two years prior to the commencement of the spatial protection. Both are likely to have been important.
However recent data shows that most of the 20 nesting hawksbill females, fitted with satellite trackers in the last two years at Arnavons swam almost directly to the relative safety of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. This means that, whilst in the Solomon Islands, the protection afforded by the ACMCA may be more significant than the bekko export ban because the turtles do not move around the rest of the Solomon Islands.
The great majority of our interviewees stressed that there has been a steady increase in local acceptance of the desirability of preventing overharvesting of turtles and other marine resources at Arnavons. But poverty, the failure of a seaweed farming project at Wagina, and the existence of a lucrative black market for bekko will continue to drive a small number of people, particularly at Wagina, to continue poaching turtle, which means that the maintenance of the ranger station on Kerehikapa Island in the Arnavons is important for continued conservation.
There has also been a significant increase in appreciation of the intrinsic or existence value of turtles among many members of the ACMCA communities. This appears to have been largely driven by increased knowledge about them, which can be credited to the efforts of a number of conservationists who have shared their scientific knowledge of turtles
and other marine fauna to community stakeholders.
Community members expressed their appreciation of learning about the biology and ecology of the protected fauna, as well as their desire to learn more. They requested that all visiting scientists in future make greater efforts to engage with the communities to share their research findings and explain their interests to the community.