Small-scale forest plantations are the key to the future of the Solomon Islands forest industry

Solomon Islands is recovering from a period of civil war that has contributed to a rate of harvesting of its natural forests that far exceeds the sustainable level of cut. This over-cutting means that within a decade the country faces a 15-year period during which it will be unable to produce commercial quantities of timber from its natural forests. As the forest industry is a major component of the economy this will have serious consequences. Plantations have the potential to bridge this resource gap. Because of the land tenure system it is difficult to establish large-scale commercial plantations. The AusAID funded Forestry Management Project and the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Forestry, Environment and Conservation have successfully encouraged individuals and families to plant high value trees. If the current planting rate of 1000 hectares per year can be maintained then this will ensure the survival of the forest industry.