The Minister of Forestry and Research Bodo Dettke and top officials from the ministry held a successful meeting with members of the Solomon Forest Association (SFA) on Wednesday 28 January.
The meeting was held after SFA earlier met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
Dettke was encouraged by the prompt response by SFA to meet with his officials not long after their meeting with the prime minister.
Dettke used the meeting to reiterate the DCC Government policy objectives on Forestry and Reforestation as well as creating a friendlier environment and how both parties can collectively execute these policy objectives.
At the meeting, both parties discussed how they could improve logging licence compliance requirements and expectations from other stakeholders including landowning groups or resource owners.
These requirements include sawmilling quota and agro-forestry related activities.
In terms of sawmilling quota, a few options were discussed including a five percent mandatory quota and subsequent cascading rates as per the conditions and duration of the licenses as well as reviewing conditions of logging licenses and include sawmilling related activities only in licenses of companies that are capable of undertaking sawmilling activities in Solomon Islands.
At this stage, an eight to 10 percent quota can be achieved but still a subject for subsequent meetings.
In terms of agro-forestry related activities, the parties agreed that an effective approach should be identified and adapted for informed decisions by relevant authorities.
There is a need for government ministries to be coordinated and consulted in order to manage their respective responsibilities in these processes.
In addition to these two broad subjects, the meeting also discussed how both parties could cooperate and discuss other crucial issues including correct identification of species for good practices that should sustain our forest and send the correct signal to other stakeholders and partners that are interested in investing in the forest sector, particularly, reforestation programs and initiatives.
The meeting also discussed several measures as catalysts for better management and greater productivity in the industry.
These measures include imposing a moratorium on registration and applications for new logging business companies and strengthening coordination and working relationship with relevant government ministries and stakeholders in the industry.
Following the meeting, Dettke updated Cabinet on the issues for further consideration.
This meeting was the first of a series of meetings, which the ministry will pursue with its stakeholders.
– GCU
