Premier of Western Province, George Lilo has commended the Solomon Islands nine provincial premiers on their commitment to the Western Province's Environment Week by discussing environmental governance during the Premier's Roundtable Forum Meeting this week.

The Western Province Environment week themed - 'Living Environment' - coincides with the Premiers Roundtable Forum on Environment Governance.

Speaking at the opening of both events, Premier Lilo says the forum hopes to chart a provincial cooperation on tourism, environment, food security and livelihood.

Premier Lilo described the environment as an 'irreplaceable commodity' and a 'non-negotiable issue that is of life and death', adding that the Premier's Roundtable Forum manifests the total commitment of the country's nine provincial premiers to the cause of environmental governance.

Meanwhile, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology, Chanel Iroi has congratulated the Western Province for their initiative to set aside a week to commemorate the environmental event saying it will add to national environment awareness programs.

Mr Iroi added that the government recognizes the province's initiatives and that the week's event will add to raise national awareness on the importance of the country's environment and the need for sustainable management of the country's natural resources.