The program was designed to support activities of non-government and community-based groups in developing countries in their endeavor to safeguard the natural environment while generating sustainable livelihoods.
The United Nations Development Program is supporting the program.
Solomon Islands Minister for Environment, Conservation and Meteorology Gordon Darcy Lilo commended the program.
He said the program will support Solomon Islanders understand and engage in best environmental practices.
Lilo said support from the program came at the right time when environmental management is a serious issue for Solomon Islanders.
“Be it destruction of mangroves or logging or overfishing, they all destruct our environment and it eventually backfires on our own livelihoods and survival,” he said.
“So, it is essential that we understand this connection of environment and livelihoods. “If we don’t caution ourselves now and take urgent actions to conserve our environment, these problems are only going to grow,” Lilo said.
He said his ministry is making every effort to fulfill its mandate to manage the environment.
Permanent Secretary Rence Sore said Solomon Islands partnership with GEF and SGP was aimed at empowering resource owners to revisit traditional concepts of environmental management.
Sore noted the concept of sound environmental management has long been practiced by our ancestors.
He said the existence of GEF and SGP here is an opportunity that we must capture to save our environment.
“GEF believes that enhanced partnership will lead to sustainable environmental management,” Sore said.
“This will further lead to sustainable community livelihood. It is our duty. Let us work together for a better and prosperous Solomon Islands,” Sore added.
