DEAR EDITOR -Thank you for allowing me to express a view that intrigues me to share with the public.
The Solomon Islands possess valuable natural resources that should be protected because they are vanishing at a terrible rate.
Beautiful lagoons, rushing rivers and lush rainforests cover the islands, and contribute to the illusion of a tropical paradise.
In reality, the Solomon’s resemble a giant magnet that attracts foreign investors and commercial opportunists.
According to studies from scholars, logging companies devastate the rainforests at more than twice the sustainable rate, around 700,000 cubic meters a year.
What does the government do to try and stop the unsustainable rate?
The government issued even more logging licences that added up to a harvest rate of 4,000,000 cubic metres per year.
Another large export commodity for the Solomon’s involves massive amounts of fish.
With the natives fishing for their survival and the commercial enterprises fishing for money, the number of catch per unit effort decreases.
In other words, catching the same amount of fish for everyone will take a larger amount of energy (technology or labor).
Furthermore, the majority of the population remains unaware of the pressing problems happening around them.
Without the creation of a stable health and educational infrastructure, Solomon Islanders cannot deal with the onslaught of social-economic problems.
The only way to improve the conditions of the Solomon Islands involves the full cooperation of the government in protecting the environment and providing adequate information to ensure the survival of the people.
What has the government recently proposed to help the islands?
Selling rainforest oxygen and water seems ridiculous as a solution to the preservation of the natural environment.
Unfortunately, the government still needs to get their heads out of the clouds, and plant their feet firmly on the ground.
Therefore the question comes again…should we happy?
Jon Watson
Honiara
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
