• Ocean and Islands Programme
  • Issues
  • Concerns
  • Response
• Community Lifelines Programme
  • Issues
  • Concerns
  • Response
• Community Risk Programme
  • Issues
  • Concerns
  • Response

Ocean and Islands Programme

Issues

• Management of ocean, coastal and land-based natural resources.
• Sustainability of ocean, coastal and island ecosystems.

Concerns

• Insufficient international support for the exploitation of deep-sea minerals in a sustainable manner.
• Lack of support for the acquisition of baseline data [geophysical, side-scan, swath, seismic] and long-term monitoring of oceanographic data [physical and chemical parameters]
• Need to develop regulatory framework, appropriate policies and legislation for marine and biodiversity resources.
• Need to strengthen capacity of national bodies.
• Insufficient protection of biodiversity resources within the context of sustainable use.
• Lack of local technical expertise, management infrastructure and trained personnel in science and technology.
• Lack of community awareness, and understanding of Integrated Coastal Management.
• Insufficient support for Maritime Boundaries Delimitation Programme, and preparation for claims for extended continental shelves

Response

• Research cruises to assess, sample and map the living and non-living resource potential, including deep-sea minerals, of the Solomon Islands’ EEZ.
• Acquisition of environmental baseline data.
• The Pacific Islands’ Global Ocean Observing System [PI-GOOS] makes products from global, regional and national long-term observing systems available to Pacific Island end-users.
• Compilation of beach profiles, and studies of coastal erosion and resource availability in near-shore areas. * Assistance with databases, policies, regulations and proposals in the petroleum, nickel, and offshore mineral sectors.
• Audit of Solomon Islands’ Minerals Department.
• Environmental audits and contamination risk assessments.
• Training of Solomon nationals in MapInfo? databases.
• Attendance of nationals of the Solomon Islands in the current cycle of the Certificate of Earth Science and Marine Geology (CESMG).
• Assistance in the area of ocean governance, including maritime boundaries delimitation.

Community Lifelines Programme

Issues

• Provision of foundations for health, productive and sustainable communities and economy (energy, water and sanitation, and information and communication technologies).

Concerns

• Lack of data on water resources and community needs in relation to water access.
• Inadequate legislation to ensure fair and efficient usage of water resources.
• Lack of community access to affordable and efficient energy, particularly in remote areas.
• Lack of human resource capacity in energy management and planning, particularly renewable energy development.
• Insufficient regulatory frameworks in the energy sector.
• Need to develop infrastructure that will decrease usage and reliance on petroleum fuel.
• Lack of support for the application of Geographic Information Systems.
• Limited databases that link data across sectors and communities.
• Need for science and technology to be a part of the development process at both national and sectoral levels.

Response

• Various technical activities related to the water and sanitation sectors including workshops, evaluations, technical appraisals, baseline studies, and strategy development.
• SOPAC assistance in the review and development of the Solomon Islands National Water Policy.
• Assessment of petroleum potential in the Solomon Islands.
• Project examining the energy efficiency of air conditioners.
• Assessment of geothermal potential.
• The development of energy resources that incorporate appropriate technologies.
• The continual assessment of wind energy resource development and technical assistance and training of staff in this area.
• Assistance in reviewing and re-establishing petroleum price monitoring.
• SOPAC assistance in the review and development of the Solomon Islands National Energy Legislation.
• Assistance upgrading data and information systems in the Ministry of Natural Resources.
• The development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, intranet and internet technologies, and relevant support to government departments concerned.
• Provision and maintenance of a database for decision making and capacity building.
• Fellowship attachments of Solomon Island nationals at the Secretariat.
• Representation of Pacific Concerns at global forums and coordination of regional action plans.

Community Risk Programme

Issues

• Management of community vulnerability to natural hazards and risks, which can have devastating impacts economically, socially and environmentally.

Concerns

• Lack of human resource development in vulnerability and adaptation assessment, and mitigation analysis.
• Lack of quantitative data on hazards and disasters.
• Lack of communication technologies to network with relevant stakeholders.
• Lack of accurate and timely predictions for when disasters will strike.
• Need to strengthen local and national capacity to respond during natural or environmental disasters.
• Need for rapid emergency response to victims of natural and environmental disasters.
• Lack of land use planning to reduce vulnerability.

Response

• Assisting with the strengthening of the disaster risk management arrangements including the NDMO office.
• Support for Solomon Islands representation at international training programmes, workshops and conferences.
• Fellowship training scheme on MapInfo? for geological hazards.
• Comprehensive Hazards Assessment and Risk Management [CHARM] national training courses and workshops.
• Savo Volcano Risk Project mapping the volcanic hazard at Savo.
• Promotion of mainstreaming of risk management through the application of Comprehensive Hazards Assessment and Risk Management (CHARM).
• Pre-cyclone season community awareness programme.
• The provision of post disaster technical or institutional support.
• Development of the Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) to assess the vulnerability of countries and to assist national stakeholders in decision-making / policy to reduce vulnerabilities of Pacific Communities.