KarunaNews Story

Often perceived as muddy, mosquito-filled swamps, mangroves are vital for coastal communities like Oibola, in the Solomon Islands. They provide fish, timber and building materials while their root systems protect the shoreline and serve as nurseries for marine life. Yet in Solomon Islands and across the Pacific, mangroves are increasingly threatened by a combination of human activity and natural forces. Clearing for building materials and small-scale development has led to widespread degradation. These pressures are compounded by rising sea levels, cyclones and storm surges, all of which further erode these coastal ecosystems. 59-year-old Ben Waleilia noticed the disappearing trees and receding coastline years ago and knew he had to act. “People talk about climate change and rising seas, but for me, it was simple – the mangroves were going or gone, and the sea had nothing to hold it back,” Waleilia says. “I couldn’t just sit back and watch the forest vanish.” In 2017 he attended a workshop on mangrove conservation and got to work. He has planted more than 16,000 mangrove seedlings over the past eight years, restoring approximately 40,000 square meters of degraded coastal habitat. His community is one of many in Solomon Islands working with government and other partners on mangrove restoration.