From happy hour to hungry hour: Logging, fisheries and food security in Malaita, Solomon Islands

Abstract

The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) has followed a logging-based development strategy for the past three decades. Despite widespread acknowledgment of the unsustainable nature of logging throughout the country and increasing awareness of its social impacts, national log export volumes have steadily increased over the past 10 years. Malaita Province has followed this trend. Logging operations are conducted by foreign (predominantly Malaysian) companies in collaboration with local licensees. These typically last between several months and 3 years, and it is common for multiple operations to take place in adjacent areas, each constructing its own log pond. Evasion of environmental regulations and financial obligations is widespread, and revenues from logging fall short of what they could and should be. This study assesses the local impacts of logging on food security, fisheries and well-being in Malaita. It is based on qualitative interviews conducted with 172 people (84 men and 88 women) in 23 villages in Are’Are, Lau and Langalanga, between November 2016 and November 2017.