Kiwa WISH+ Project in Solomon Islands: Capacity Building for Community Rangers
A five-day training session for protected area rangers was recently held on Kolombangara Island, Solomon Islands.
The training brought together 18 community rangers from the Lolobo, Mande’atungu and Kiuwai tribal groups, as well as members of the local Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association (KIBCA).
The training focused on the following key areas:
- protected area management
- leadership and communication
- ecological monitoring and data collection
Through a participatory approach combining theoretical input and field-based exercises, participants strengthened their practical skills and technical knowledge. A special mention goes to the two women rangers who took part in the training.
This activity is part of a broader effort to build local capacity for the effective management of two new protected areas currently being established, covering 5,149 hectares of forest and wetlands, and the development of a community tree nursery on Kolombangara Island.
The training was organised by the Solomon Islands Rangers Association (SIRA), with support from the regional Kiwa WISH+ project (WCS) and the Rainforest Trust.
