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Introducing the project to SI Government
officials, Australian Government officers, NGOs and other
stakeholders.
Worklocations
and outcomes
Meetings were held mostly where people were stationed, either
in Honiara (capital of SI) or Gizo (capital centre for Western
Province). Prepared information portfolios were presented
to key people. Portfolios included: a description of the project;
personnel involved; and a background brief plus information
brochures produced by Dr Duke’s research group.
Portfolio (pdf 1.47MB)
Marine
Botany overview brochure (pdf 390KB)
A brief inspection was made of the Tengomo Island accommodation
facilities, and surrounding study environment. Two days of
field inspections were conducted across southern Marovo Lagoon.
During flights to and from the area, a preliminary aerial
inspection was made although largely restricted to the commercial
flight path. A paid diversion allowed us to specifically take
a flight path from Seghe straight across the proposed transect
and Tengomo Island.
1. H/
2. Gizo
3. Marovo Lagoon |
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Key
stakeholders contacted
SI Government officials
Snyder Rini, Deputy Prime Minister &
Minister of Education
Fred Gnate, P/S, P/S SI Fisheries & Marine
Resources
Moses Biliki, Director, Environment &
Conservation
Donald Malasa, Chairman of Research Committee
U/Secret. Minister of Education
Eric Ghemu, D/PS ,P/S Western Province
Kenneth Bulehite, International Waters Project
Australian Government officials
Stacey Green, Australian High Commission
& AusAID, 2nd Secretary
Gloria Suluia, Australian High Commission
& AusAID, Project Officer AusAID
Rod Little, Australian Team Leader, AusAID
SIISLAP Mapping Project
Wayne Woof, AusAID Forestry Project
SI NGO officials
Alison Green, Pacific Proj. Officer, TNC
William Atu, SI D/Program Manager, TNC
Reg Sanday, GIS Officer, SOPAC
Donn Tolia, SI Director of Geology, SOPAC
Chris Ramofafia, Research Associate, ICLARM
(World Fish Center)
Bruno Manele, Gizo Project Officer, WWF Solomon
Islands
Jacky Healy, Gizo Project Officer (AVA),
WWF Solomon Islands
Gordon Nanau, SICHE (College of Higher Education)
Marovo-based stakeholder and potential collaborators
David Tomlinson, Captain/Owner RV Flamingo
Bay, Flamingo Bay Research
Corey Howell, Owner/Manager, Wilderness Lodge
SI
media coverage
Project activities and aspirations were reported on by
Robert Iroga, a reporter with the
‘Solomons Star’ newspaper on 1st and 2nd
of June, following an interview on the 30 May.
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Future
planning:
a follow-up introductory survey in June 2004
A site survey was planned so key field sites could be identified
and selected in conjunction with collaborating local NGOs.
Two of these NGOs will be working in the Marovo area over
the next 2-3 weeks, including the International Waters Project
(IWP) and SOPAC. Each NGO offers essential links to the UQ
project objectives. The IWP will be conduct community consultations
for the use and management of marine resources in the area.
The SOPAC project will map marine resources in the area. In
addition, the ‘RV Flamingo Bay’, will be at Tengomo
Island, providing further logistic support for our planned
preliminary investigations. These investigations will gather
preliminary data and information from which to make site selections
across the proposed transect(s) from land inputs to open water
– as well as to initiate essential consultation with
local communities. |