HOW to best manage Solomon Islands’ forests was the focus for 24 landholders at the recent Sustainable Forest Management & Certification Workshop at Kirakira, of Makira/Ulawa province.
The workshop was funded by the Ministry of Forestry and Research through Utilization division, and was coordinated by Chief Forester Miss Stephanie Rikoi of Utilization Division. Positive comments about the training were received from all landholders who attended the workshop
A wide and comprehensive pool of expertise was sourced to facilitate the workshop including Stephanie Rikoi (Chief Officer-Utilization Division, Ministry of Forestry and Research); and Felix Narasia former Green peace trainner and a consultant on Sustainable Forest Management -SFM
The workshop content included: Introduction in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC©) Principles & Criteria, Forest Survey and Inventory Techniques, Safe Felling & Milling Techniques, FSC© Chain of Custody (CoC), Wood Technology, Timber Grading and Timber Quality Control, wood seasoning and treatment and timber market and exporting procedures.
Ministry of Forestry and Research chief forest officer (Utilization Division) Stephanie Rikoi said Solomon Islanders depended on the forests for their livelihood and must manage their forests sustainably so that they continue to enjoy the benefits now and in the future.
Ms Rikoi also said that the Utilization Division is committed to implementing the Government’s forest policy on sustainable forest management and will be funding more training workshops in the future.
“The NCRA Government is committed to sustainable forest management and encourages forest resource owners to sustainably manage their forest resources,” she said.
The closing ceremony of the workshop was attended by the Provincial Deputy Premier Clement Horohua.
During his speech the deputy premier highlighted the urgent need of sustainable harvesting and certification as the international timber markets are closing their doors for timber that is not verified as legal or is not sustainable harvested.
He also thanked the Ministry to take on Makira province for this year’s first SFM workshop as Makira province is one the highest timbers in the country.
Co-facilitator of the SFM workshop was Felix Narasia.
He said he was so pleased to see the government taking up the leading role in Sustainable Forest Management SFM.
As someone who coordinated and manages the same program before he was really over whelmed and he said, he believes the SFM program will be the only way forward in sustaining our remain forest resources.
He welcomed the support from the Government towards sustainable forest management and certification and commend that this is how government could help the resource owners in years to come.
