Project news
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© Kiwa Initiative
19 June 2026
Rennell and Bellona Strengthen Commitment to Biosecurity Through Provincial Coordination Workshop
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© Palu M - FB page Kgwan ecohabitat
7 October 2024
New Nursery Yard Completed: A Step Forward for Native and Introduced Species Cultivation
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© S. Cranwell
2 July 2024
Resilience and Conservation in East Rennell - Solomon Islands
New Nursery Yard Completed: A Step Forward for Native and Introduced Species Cultivation
7 October 2024
© Palu M - FB page Kgwan ecohabitat
The project holders are proud to announce the completion of the new nursery yard, a key milestone in our ongoing efforts to support both native and introduced plant species. Built with a sturdy metal frame, the new nursery measures 14x8 meters, offering ample space for the growth and care of seedlings.
With the construction now finished, our team is ready to focus on the next phase: nurturing a diverse range of tree seedlings. This includes a mix of introduced and native species, all grown with the goal of contributing to reforestation projects, biodiversity restoration, and providing sustainable resources for local communities.
The new nursery yard will play a crucial role in accelerating the cultivation process, ensuring that we can continue to meet the growing demand for tree seedlings, whether for ecological restoration or community projects.
Learn more about Nature-based Solutions.
Rennell and Bellona Strengthen Commitment to Biosecurity Through Provincial Coordination Workshop
19 June 2026
© Kiwa Initiative
Honiara, 3 June 2026 – Government agencies, provincial authorities, key partners and stakeholders have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Rennell and Bellona Province from invasive species and biosecurity threats following the successful Rennell and Bellona Biosecurity Plan Implementation and Coordination Workshop held on 2 June.
The workshop brought together representatives from national and provincial government agencies, maritime authorities, communities and partner organisations to discuss the implementation of the Rennell and Bellona Biosecurity Plan and strengthen coordination among agencies responsible for its delivery.
Opening the workshop, Deputy Provincial Secretary Mr Aubrey Saueha highlighted the importance of the Biosecurity Plan in protecting the province’s unique biodiversity, food security and livelihoods. He noted that Rennell and Bellona is the first province in Solomon Islands to develop a provincial biosecurity plan and expressed hope that it would serve as a model for other provinces. Mr Saueha emphasised that protecting the province from invasive species is particularly important given its remoteness, limited transport links and dependence on local food production.
Representing Biosecurity Solomon Islands (BSI), Director Ms. Jean Eroa Manepora’a stressed that effective biosecurity is essential for safeguarding agriculture, biodiversity, human health and local economies. She noted that the Rennell and Bellona Biosecurity Plan provides a practical roadmap for managing invasive species threats and is fully aligned with Solomon Islands' legislative and policy framework. "The law provides the authority; the Plan provides the roadmap. Together they enable us to take practical action to protect the province from invasive species and other biosecurity threats," said Ms. Manepora’a. She also highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between government agencies, communities, transport operators, businesses and development partners in ensuring successful implementation of the Plan.
In her welcome remarks on behalf of BirdLife International, Ms Miliana Ravuso acknowledged the significant effort invested over the past several years to develop the Biosecurity Plan through consultation and collaboration among stakeholders. She encouraged participating agencies to embed biosecurity responsibilities into their routine operations and emphasised the importance of shared ownership, commitment and accountability in implementing the Plan.
The workshop concluded with several important outcomes. Participants agreed that Biosecurity Solomon Islands will take the lead role in coordinating implementation of the Biosecurity Plan, with support from the Rennell and Bellona Provincial Government and other partner agencies. Participants also recognised the need for a Provincial Biosecurity Ordinance to provide a stronger legal framework for implementing the Plan, with BSI and the Provincial Government committing to work together to advance its development. In addition, agencies agreed on a coordination mechanism that will support ongoing communication, collaboration and follow-through on agreed actions.
The workshop reaffirmed the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in protecting Rennell and Bellona’s globally significant biodiversity, agricultural resources and communities from the impacts of invasive species. Participants expressed confidence that through strong partnerships and coordinated action, the province can successfully implement its Biosecurity Plan and strengthen biosecurity management for future generations.
The workshop was supported through funding from the Kiwa Initiative and implemented through BirdLife International as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen invasive species management and biodiversity conservation in Rennell and Bellona Province.
Resilience and Conservation in East Rennell - Solomon Islands
2 July 2024
© S. Cranwell
East Rennell, a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Solomon Archipelago, is home to diverse wildlife, pristine forests, and Lake Tegano, supporting around 900 residents. However, the community faces significant challenges due to climate change, invasive species, and resource depletion.
BirdLife International and the Kiwa Initiative, is working with the East Rennell communities to address these issues. A Participatory Appraisal (PRA) in January 2024 identified key problems: declining water quality, reduced arable land, crop failures, and invasive Black Rats.
Local rangers, trained through the project, are implementing rodent control measures, showing promising results in reducing rat populations and improving crop yields. The project also introduces climate-smart farming techniques and is developing the Renbel Biosecurity Plan to protect biodiversity.
Despite logistical challenges, the project, in collaboration with local and national partners, aims to protect East Rennell's environment and support its communities. Significant progress is being made, with a hopeful outlook for the future of East Rennell's people and wildlife.
Learn more in the IUCN projects' update in the Pacific.
Theme
co-benefits
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Project nameFood security / Invasive species management
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Project LeadBirdLife International
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Project StartAugust 2022
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Estimated termMarch 2027
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Amount of funding€ 350,245
Project locations
Solomon Islands have greater species diversity and endemism than any Pacific Island nation (except PNG) and the Rennell Island has the highest endemism per hectare.East Rennell is a World Heritage Site (ERWHS), but its biodiversity and subsistence lifestyles of 900 villagers are threatened by introduced BlackRats and other invasive species.
Through this project, our objective is to enhance the ecological and social sustainability of the ERWHS, by strengthening climate resilience through invasive species management (asa nature-based solution), to improve livelihoods, and food security for the ERWHS Communities.
The East Rennell World Heritage Site (ERWHS), approximately 30% of Rennell Island, is representative of the Island’s habitats and exceptionally high levels of endemism, including 13 birds and 7 land snail species.
In 2013, ERWHS was declared ‘in danger’ from issues including: lack of Protected Area (PA) status; limited livelihood opportunities and low perceived benefit from WHS status risking future logging; inadequate capacity for ERWHS management and ecological monitoring; and IAS incursions associated with WestRennell mining and logging.
A 2018 BirdLife-led study confirmed Black Rat (Rattus rattus) presence island-wide with associated impact on staple crops, coconut and taro, yams, kumara and papaya. An inability top revent further IAS introductions was evident, with Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and invasive plants identified as recently established, further threatening crops, livelihoods, and biodiversity, and signalling an urgent need for biosecurity.
This project will develop an integrated solution to safeguard the livelihoods and biodiversity of the ERWHS, by establishing sustainable and scale-able capacity drawing on BirdLife’s expertise in managing biodiversity & IAS; and by the development of local grassroot communities, linking to complementary initiatives, notablyLive & Learn (L&L) Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program, carbon financing, and social & economic development.
This project will also beintegrated into BirdLife’s Regional Island Restoration Programme andother BirdLife networks including a Regional Ecosystem Learning Network planned for development; sharinglessons and expertise on IAS management and other threats associated with climate change. In doing so, the project will bridge the spatial divide with peer-to-peer learning amongst Pacific Island countries and create stronger and more efficient capacity building to improve resilience of Pacific Island communities to climate change impact.
ERWHS holds globally important biodiversity, directly threatened by the impacts of climate change, the recent introduction of IAS (particularly Black Rat), and indirectly by livelihood pressures and the lowperceived value of WHS status, risking a shift to unsustainable exploitation of resources.
Building on stakeholder relationships and initial community monitoring knowledge developed under the 2018 survey, the project adopts a three-pronged approach to creating the conditions for improved social and biological resilience of ERWHS and plugging a critical gap among the complementary interventions already supported by building the local capacity of ERWHS communities, developing local biosecurity capacity and enhancing the Lake Tegano World Heritage Site Association’s capacity to manage and project their natural heritage.
Objectives of the project
- Increased understanding of climate change impacts at the EastRennell World HeritageSite (ERWHS) and developing local frameworks & governance for the LTWHSA and ERWHS communities, to strengthen local conditions for community resilience.
- Effective invasive species management, through control & biosecurity, as a Nature-based solution approach for restoring ecosystem & strengthening climate resilience at the ERWHS.
- Diversification of livelihoods to reduce dependency on natural based livelihoods affected by climate change, and increased project development capacity, financial management & grant development for the LTWHSA, to improve access to funding for climate change adaptation.
- Increased awareness, knowledge & application of effective IAS management at local, national & regional level recognized as an essential component of NBS approaches for climate change resilience.
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Pasifika Peoples and Communities with high dependencies on limited natural resources, food security, livelihoods, and cultural traditions (medicinal plants and wild foods) are particularly vulnerable to major climatic events. Additional pressure on these natural resources add to (already) unsustainable environmental practices and other social disruptions including those associated with increased urban migration as people seek alternative income opportunities. Pacific Island resilience to climate change is compromised by IAS asthey alter the structure and composition of native and agricultural ecosystems, negatively impact food production, reduce opportunities for economic development through trade, and impose additional health burdens on island governments and communities.
The most significant impact of invasive species on island ecosystem is their cumulative, and often synergistic, negative effect on ecosystem resilience. The cumulative impact of this is often extinction of multiple species and “ecosystem collapse”. Socio-economic impacts include reduced security, reduced income generation opportunities from negative impacts on ecosystem services, pollution of water supplies and plant, consume and contaminate human food crops, animal and human disease transmission, among others. Evidence of the linkages between invasive species and climate change is substantial and growing. The Pacific Invasives Initiative has concluded that “A crucial part of Pacific island adaptation to climate change will be to reduce pressures on ecosystems, such as those caused by invasive species. Adaptation to climate change requires increased efforts to prevent new invasions and to eradicate or control existing invasives.”.
The prevention, control and eradication of IAS is recognised as a key strategy for adaptation to climate change in the Pacific. The eradication, suppression and prevention of invasive species protects and regenerates biodiversity and restores ecosystem services, while improving the livelihoods of local communities through better access to food and natural resources, improved health and wellbeing, and enhanced opportunities for economic development.
