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This brief presents a review of lessons learned and good practices in developing management plans within the context of community based resource management (CBRM) in Solomon Islands. The lessons are based on work done by the WorldFish Center, the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International (FSPI) and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. The document is intended to complement other initiatives in the country and through the Solomon Islands Locally Managed Marine Area Network add to lessons learned by other organizations in order to help the people and the government of the Solomon Islands meet their marine resource management goals.

Predicted changes to the climate in the Pacific region over the coming decades are expected to have significant implications for the livelihoods of Pacific island inhabitants. While contributing little to the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, Pacific island countries are particularly vulnerable to its impacts because of their geographical, social, institutional and economic characteristics. Key impacts include damage to coastal systems, settlements and infrastructure; undermining of recent economic progress; exacerbation of existing water and food security challenges; increasing threats to human health; and degradation of regional biodiversity. Global mitigation efforts are a priority both for Australia and for Pacific island countries. In international climate change negotiations, Australia is advocating an ambitious global effort to stabilise greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million (ppm) carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2?e) or lower.

This report has been prepared by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for Members of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to support discussion on Agenda Item 8.1 'Streamlined reporting by Pacific Island countries (PICs) to the biodiversity- related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) - the development of a consolidated reporting template' at the 19th SPREP Meeting in September 2008.

Pacific island countries' are maritime nations with vast marine estates. They cover almost 30 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean and contain a high proportion of the largest and most valuable tuna fisheries in the world. The coral reefs, lagoons and deeper water habitats of the region are significant components of global tropical marine biodiversity. They form part of the fabric of Pacific cultures and society.

In the developing world, illegal logging damages forest ecosystems and cheats governments out of much needed export revenue, as well as depriving local communities of opportunities to improve their quality of life.It promotes corruption, bankrolls regional conflict and discourages legal and sustainable forest practices.Illegal logging also reduces opportunities for forest industries in countries which have worked hard to ensure their operations are environmentally sustainable, such as here in Australia.