The Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) handed over ID cards for rangers of Pamahima Tribal Forest Protected Area (PA) through its Project Partners, Ecological Solutions Foundation (ESF) witnessed by FAO IFMP.
This was to complete the formality in empowering and recognition of rangers to do their duty within the recently launched protected area.
A total of eleven (11) rangers from PTFPA were formally appointed and issued with Rangers IDs by the Director of Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology.
Amongst eleven, five (5) of them are female and six are (6) males.
The appointment of rangers by the Protected Area Management Committee is an important requirement for the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of the Protected Areas management plans as mandated under the Protected Area Act 2010.
Director Environment and Conservation Division, Josef Hurutarau in handing over identification cards to rangers of PTFPA said, this signifies your identification & important role as Rangers empowered under the subsidiary Protected Areas Regulations 2012 to manage the protected area site.
He stated “I trust that you will be trained to know your powers and effectively discharge your enforcement duties and as per Protected Areas regulation 66 to support your Management Committees in looking after a national Protected Area”.
He also encourages appointed rangers to work with due diligence, respect for others and uphold good ethical standards.
The Ministry through ECD is expected to work closely with all its Partners including Makira Ulawa Provincial Government, RSIP, Solomon Islands Rangers Association and other enforcement agencies to undertake training to support these rangers to manage the resources within this Protected Area.
Mrs Hensllyn Pwe’a Boseto from the Ecological Solution Foundation acknowledged the rangers and praised them for giving their time in undertaking this responsibility for their community.
She also encouraged other communities around the Solomon Islands to do the same thing as well to look for alternatives to conserve and preserve the natural resources because this is where the future depends on for survival.
The Ministry continues to fulfill its mandates in supporting communities and resources owners who are interested in protecting portion of their land under the Protected Areas Act 2010.
Lately Pamahima Tribal Forest Protected Areas is one of their first sites to be declared in Makira Ulawa Province.
- MECDM Press
