An international organization, Shift2Neutral, has partnered with a local Solomon Islands group to try and start a Carbon Project to protect millions of hectares against deforestation.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed by Shift2Neutral and the Founder of the Solomon Islands Carbon Project, Mr Charles Stennett Kereau. The MOA sets out key initiatives and drivers to protect natural land and forests in the Solomon Islands, and to work together to cease the decline of the environment at local and national levels.The long term goal of the Solomon Islands Carbon Project and Shift2Neutral is to halt unsustainable deforestation and allow the local society to protect the ecosystems on which we all depend. Shift2Neutral and the Solomon Islands Carbon Project believe this can be achieved with real benefits to local stakeholders.
"We must recognize the rights of indigenous peoples and the local communities involved, protect their native and indigenous environment and culture through mechanisms that provide assistance to them and the protection of their land," the group said in a joint statement.
"Regardless of national or international policies, deforestation cannot be combated effectively unless local landowners and residents have a desire and need to protect the forests."