Coral reefs constitute an integral part of the societies inhabiting
Marau Sound and Langalanga lagoon. Marau sound is situated on the
south eastern coast of Guadalcanal and is studded with dozens of small
islands and sand cays amidst one of the Solomon Islands most beautiful
and intact coral reefs. One of the islands, Marapa, is believed to
be the final resting place of `good' spirits, and it is believed that
these spirits guard, protect and beautify Marau. Langalanga lagoon
is situated on the central coast of Malaita and is dotted with dozens
of man made islands built from corals from what used to be a very
rich coral reef lagoon, but which presently is degraded. .
In Langalanga, even though prohibited by law, dynamite fishing in
recent years has become one of the most common fishing methods. Years
of employing destructive fishing and coral harvesting has for the
most part destroyed the coral reefs and replaced them with graveyards
of broken coral skeletons, with blooms of opportunistic filamentous
algae. In Marau sound, coral reefs are in much better shape, as dynamite
fishing is not often employed, however, Acropora corals has been harvested
and burnt to obtain lime (calcium oxide) used in the habit of chewing
betelnut (Areca catechu). This practice not only destroyed important
reef habitats throughout the Solomons, but has also caused ecological
shifts in coral reef communities as coral reefs become devoid of "stag
horn" Acropora corals. In the early 1990's, the advent of the
ornamental curio and aquarium coral trades resulted in additional
pressure and damage to coral reefs in the Solomons. An attempt to
reverse these negative impacts was begun in 1997, with a small grant
from the Pacific Development and Conservation Trust (NZ), to Austin
Bowden-Kerby and in partnership with ICLARM, a local NGO, Solomon
Islands Development Trust (SIDT) and the Baha'i community in Malaita.
The project focused on restoring reef areas degraded by generations
of coral harvesting for traditional use to produce lime for chewing
betel nut to rehabilitate and restore fish habitats and reefs damaged
by the perilous method of dynamite fishing and to provide economic
alternatives to rural communities through the sale of cultured corals
to the aquarium trade.
Two communities were initially trained in Malaita, and in May 1999
the Solomon Islands Development Trust arranged for an additional workshop
during a follow-up visit. A no-fishing area was established around
Malave Island in Langalanga Lagoon, with corals replanted into several
sites. Mr. Donald Wale, arose as a volunteer, and has worked without
pay for the project since 1999, continuing coral replanting and educating
communities. An educated population has resulted in the expansion
of coral replanting to other communities and has resulted in a large
reduction in dynamite fishing within Langalanga lagoon.
The work in Marau Sound, Guadalcanal, initially involved training
of over 30 women as coral farmers, and resulted in the export of tens
of thousands of farmed aquarium corals to the USA in 1998-1999. However,
these coral farms were abandoned in 1999 during the ethnic tension,
when homes were burnt, and the people fled. The conflict has now subsided,
and the cultured corals will be used as cultured "seed stock"
as the coral farming and reef restoration work resumes under newly-secured
ICRAN funding.
This Coral Gardens work will certainly contribute to the lives of
the people (either as fish habitats or for income generation) as the
people begin to undergo the post conflict process of rebuilding their
lives. The education and empowerment of local communities, as demonstrated
in the two communities above, is an important step to the more pragmatic
community participation in coral reef rehabilitation and conservation
needed regionally.
