Protected areas of Solomon Islands include marine protected areas that encompass coral reefs, lagoons, and seagrass meadows. East Rennell, which includes Lake Tegano ( Te Nggano), is the only area in the Solomon Islands (the Solomons) listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. As of April 2024, the Solomons have not nominated any wetlands under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (known as the Ramsar Convention).
The exclusive economic zone of the Solomons spans 1,589,477 km2 (613,701 sq mi) of the Pacific Ocean. The Solomons are part of the Coral Triangle, the region of the western Pacific with the world's greatest diversity of corals and coral reef species. The recognizable reef systems in the Solomons include fringing reef, patch reef, barrier reef, atoll reef, and lagoon environment. [1] The Coral reefs of the Solomons total 6,750 km2 (2,610 sq mi). [2] As of 2020, there are 113 locally managed marine areas (LMMA) containing an estimated 155 no-take zones in the Solomons. The largest LMMA, with a contiguous 13 km (10 mi) no-take zone, is on Tetepare Island. [3]
The Queen Elizabeth II National Park was established in 1953 as a 15,000-acre (61 km2) park near the capital Honiara on Guadalcanal. [4] It is the only national park in the Solomons. Guadalcanal people disputed the government's right to use the land that became the park; people occupied parts of the park and cleared and farmed the land. In 1973 the park was reduced to 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) as it was recognised that much of it had been degraded by illegal logging and the effects of the settlements. [4]
As of April 2024, there are 38 marine protected areas, marine conservation areas and community conservation areas in the Solomons, which are managed by local communities, as well as two forest reserves. The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) includes the following protected areas in the Solomons: [5]
As of April 2024, East Rennell is the only area in the Solomons listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. [10] East Rennell is the southern portion of Rennell Island, which is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. The area in East Rennell surrounding Lake Tegano ( Te Nggano) contains many endemic species. [11] Lake Tegano (Te Nggano) is a former lagoon and the largest lake on an island in the Pacific Ocean. [12]
Other sites in the Solomons are on UNESCO's Tentative List, as important heritage and natural sites that are being considered for inclusion on the World Heritage List: [13]
Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area ha ( acre) |
Year of submission | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marovo - Tetepare Complex | Western, Solomon Islands | Mixed (iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x) | 2008 | [14] | ||
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Solomon Islands | Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Makira-Ulawa, Western, Solomon Islands | Natural (vii)(ix)(x) | 2008 | [15] |
A total of 12 offshore sites and 53 inshore sites have been identified as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) - areas of high biodiversity and conservation. [6] The highest-scoring sites were Marovo Lagoon and the Arnavon Community Marine Conservation Area. [6] The key offshore sites are Roncador Reef, Ontong Java Atoll, Tikopia Island, Nendö and Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz group and underwater seamounts, hydrothermal vents and submarine volcanoes, including Kavachi, an active submarine volcano located south of Vangunu Island. [6]
KBAs include:
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Protected areas of Solomon Islands include marine protected areas that encompass coral reefs, lagoons, and seagrass meadows. East Rennell, which includes Lake Tegano ( Te Nggano), is the only area in the Solomon Islands (the Solomons) listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. As of April 2024, the Solomons have not nominated any wetlands under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (known as the Ramsar Convention).
The exclusive economic zone of the Solomons spans 1,589,477 km2 (613,701 sq mi) of the Pacific Ocean. The Solomons are part of the Coral Triangle, the region of the western Pacific with the world's greatest diversity of corals and coral reef species. The recognizable reef systems in the Solomons include fringing reef, patch reef, barrier reef, atoll reef, and lagoon environment. [1] The Coral reefs of the Solomons total 6,750 km2 (2,610 sq mi). [2] As of 2020, there are 113 locally managed marine areas (LMMA) containing an estimated 155 no-take zones in the Solomons. The largest LMMA, with a contiguous 13 km (10 mi) no-take zone, is on Tetepare Island. [3]
The Queen Elizabeth II National Park was established in 1953 as a 15,000-acre (61 km2) park near the capital Honiara on Guadalcanal. [4] It is the only national park in the Solomons. Guadalcanal people disputed the government's right to use the land that became the park; people occupied parts of the park and cleared and farmed the land. In 1973 the park was reduced to 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) as it was recognised that much of it had been degraded by illegal logging and the effects of the settlements. [4]
As of April 2024, there are 38 marine protected areas, marine conservation areas and community conservation areas in the Solomons, which are managed by local communities, as well as two forest reserves. The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) includes the following protected areas in the Solomons: [5]
As of April 2024, East Rennell is the only area in the Solomons listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. [10] East Rennell is the southern portion of Rennell Island, which is the largest raised coral atoll in the world. The area in East Rennell surrounding Lake Tegano ( Te Nggano) contains many endemic species. [11] Lake Tegano (Te Nggano) is a former lagoon and the largest lake on an island in the Pacific Ocean. [12]
Other sites in the Solomons are on UNESCO's Tentative List, as important heritage and natural sites that are being considered for inclusion on the World Heritage List: [13]
Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area ha ( acre) |
Year of submission | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marovo - Tetepare Complex | Western, Solomon Islands | Mixed (iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(ix)(x) | 2008 | [14] | ||
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Solomon Islands | Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Makira-Ulawa, Western, Solomon Islands | Natural (vii)(ix)(x) | 2008 | [15] |
A total of 12 offshore sites and 53 inshore sites have been identified as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) - areas of high biodiversity and conservation. [6] The highest-scoring sites were Marovo Lagoon and the Arnavon Community Marine Conservation Area. [6] The key offshore sites are Roncador Reef, Ontong Java Atoll, Tikopia Island, Nendö and Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz group and underwater seamounts, hydrothermal vents and submarine volcanoes, including Kavachi, an active submarine volcano located south of Vangunu Island. [6]
KBAs include:
{{
cite report}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite report}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite report}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite report}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)