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The Solomon Islands joined the Committee for Coordination of Joint Prospecting for Mineral Resources in South Pacific Offshore Areas (CCOP/SOPAC) in 1972. CCOP/SOPAC became autonomous in 1984 and later changed its name to the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) in 1989.

The Solomon Islands is located between latitudes 5 South and 12 South and longitudes 152 East and 163 East in the Pacific Ocean, encompassing a total land area of 28, 785 square kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 1.34 square kilometres (Solomon Islands National Assessment Report, 2002).

The land area of the Solomon s consists of a double chain of six large islands that make up a total of 997 islands. The double chain of islands can be described as a fragmented island arc and is situated along the boundary between the Ontong Java Plateau Central Pacific Basin and the Solomon Sea Woodlark-Torres? Basins. A composite basin separates the double chain of islands that make up the main archipelago of the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands archipelago is the segment of the Melanesian Island arch complex that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Coral Sea and Solomon Sea (Vedder, 1984).

The Solomon Islands EEZ consists of a complex area of troughs, basins and ridges that underlies the Coral Sea south of the island chains. To the north and east of the Solomon Islands archipelago, lie less well-defined trench systems. Exploration and assessment of these troughs and basins reveal mineral potential of polymetallic sulphides and hydrocarbons. The magnitude of petroleum potential in the Solomon s is yet to be determined, but their hydrocarbon potential has been found to be substantial. Sustainable development of this hydrocarbon potential remains a concern of the Solomon government.

Other minerals have been discovered on land, including gold, silver and nickel, which generate revenue for the Solomon Islands economy. The nation s economy is also dependent on a number of industries (such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry) to generate revenue. Although the Solomon Islands was once a vibrant economy by Pacific standards, after 1995 its economy declined substantially and has struggled even more in the past two to three years. Export commodities include gold, copra, wood and fish products, and cocoa. Logging continues to generate revenue for the Solomon Islands while coconut products and gold have been stagnant since 1999 and 2000 respectively (National Economic Recovery and Development Plan 2003 2005, 2002).

The Solomon Islands receives two climate systems: the southeasterly trade winds from May to October and the northeasterly trade monsoon winds from December to March. Fine, sunny and calm weather is experienced from April to November. The Solomon s is no stranger to natural hazards; it experiences cyclones, storm surges, coastal flooding, river flooding, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

Water sources in the Solomon Islands are reported to be abundant , but only 64% of the population has access to safe drinking water. Surface water and ground water are the main water sources the locals have access to.

At present the Solomon s relies heavily on fossil fuel based systems to supply electricity, which still is not equitably distributed to the population. About 90% of the electricity is generated by diesel engines. Alternative sources of energy in the Solomon s have been identified as biomass, solar, hydro, wave, wind, and geothermal. These have potential to be developed and utilised as sources of electricity.

At the last census in 1999, the total population of the Solomon s stood at 409, 042. Of these, Melanesians comprised 95% of the population, followed by Polynesians with 3% and other ethnicities making up the remaining 2%. 84% of the total population of the Solomon s still live in rural areas but a significant flow of young people are moving to the urban centres.