Posted on November, 25 2024

Gizo, Western Province, Solomon Islands - In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability and resilience, the Ijo Maringi Community Ridges to Reef Conservation on Gizo Island has launched a bold 2050 vision for a sustainable local food system, marking a significant step in safeguarding their future for generations to come.

The community-led vision outlines transformational ideas for future generations, including land use, marine and sea management, housing, roads, waste recycling, conservation, and a healthy lifestyle. The vision was artistically captured by local talent, Desmond Warugutaia. Desmond, also a youth group representative and Secretary of the Ijo Maringi said "Having the vision for 2050 is like giving us a telescope to see what is ahead of us and zooming in closer to it."

The Future Kaikai project, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), has enabled the community to develop adaptation pathways to tackle challenges and seize opportunities for their coastal food system. These pathways, ranging from organic agriculture to marine management and sustainable energy, are designed to coordinate action toward achieving the community's 2050 goals.\

At the launch, knowledge brokers—including women, men, and youth—presented pilot projects developed in partnership with local government stakeholders. These projects will be implemented with the support of the Western Province Government, the Ward Development Committee, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Ministry of Health.

Women’s group representative Nerolyn Loni presented the Organic Agriculture Pathway and said "The Ijo Maringi Association members must work together to increase the sustainability of our agricultural products.We must learn from others about their methods for local organic farming. We also need to train our community so that they are ready for any risks that might be coming and they can overcome them”. 

Mr. Henry Kaniki, WWF-Pacific’s Solomon Islands Conservation Programme Manager, said, "The Ijo Maringi Association has shown true leadership. This vision, supported by practical adaptation pathways, is a blueprint for resilient communities throughout the Pacific. A vision that is aligned with WWF-Pacific’s mission of a People and Nature Positive Pacific”.

The Future Kaikai project is a collaboration between the Ijo Maringi Association, WWF Solomon Islands, Cawthron Institute New Zealand, University of Technology Sydney, CSIRO, and the Pacific Community, with a focus on preparing communities for future climate change and other shocks.