Being involved in a research project in the Solomon Islands has given University of Queensland student Lotus DesFours first-hand experience of the complexities that can surround community development.
As part of her Masters in Development Practice (Advanced), Ms DesFours joined Dr Kristen Lyons and Dr Peter Walters from UQ’s School of Social Science on field visits to a number of villages in the Western Province that grow teak in plantations.
Dr Lyons said the purpose of the visits was to learn more about the challenges related to teak management and local participation in markets, as well as opportunities to integrate agro-forestry principles into current plantation management.
“Reforestation efforts have been identified by the Solomon Islands Government, development agencies (including ACIAR and PARDI) and others, as a pathway for economic development,” Dr Lyons said.
“In particular, community agro-forestry – where local landholders/land users are engaged in establishing and maintaining plantations on their own land – has been recognised to be significant in these reforestation efforts.”
This longstanding project (a joint initiative between Griffith University, UQ and a range of other Australian and Solomon Islands partners) has been awarded another four years funding from ACIAR and PARDI.
This includes support for two students per year for two years to travel to the Solomon Islands to assist researchers with their agro-forestry work.
Dr Lyons said logging had left a devastating legacy in the four villages they visited.
“In Mandali, for example, villagers described the degradation of ecosystems and pollution of river systems and lagoons as being part and parcel of the impacts associated with the logging industry in the Solomon Islands,” she said.
“A number of locals predict that the unsustainable logging industries will shortly collapse, however there are still many challenges that impede the transition to community agro-forestry.”
A lack of resources (including access to appropriate pruning and thinning tools) was frequently cited as being a primary constraint on effective plantation management.
“Villagers also recognise they are isolated from knowledge that might assist them to participate – on equitable terms – in teak markets, including information related to timber prices,” Dr Lyons said.
The ongoing research aims to inform best practice related to agro-forestry approaches and training by providing insights into the complex socio-economic, political and ecological contexts in which community forestry is undertaken, as well as considering the diverse hopes and aspirations of local communities.
Media Enquiries: Lotus Des Fours lotus.desfours@gmail.com, 0423 532 912 or Dr Kristen Lyons: kristen.lyons@uq.edu.au, (07) 3365 2020, or Kristen Bastian (UQ Communications) k.bastian@uq.edu.au, (07) 3346 9279.
