Solomon Islands Ranger Skills Guide Indigenous Rangers Skill Guide Caring Lukaftarem pipol, ples wetem laef blo animol For People Place & Patrick G. Pikacha, Tyrone Lavery, David Boseto, Wildlife Myknee Sirikolo, Douglas Pikacha, Jr, Edgar Pollard Solomon Islands Ranger Skills Guide A reference guide and training manual for Protected Area Rangers in Solomon Islands by Patrick Pikacha, Tyrone Lavery, David Boseto, Myknee Sirikolo, Douglas Pikacha, Jr., Edgar Pollard Photographs by Patrick Pikacha, Tyrone Lavery, David Boseto & Edgar Pollard ISBN 978-1-74272-167-5 University of Queensland. 2016 Design layout Patrick G. Pikacha Table of Contents Foreword.........................................................................5 In memory of Acknowledgment.............................................................9 Chapter 2. Conservation, A Solomon Islands Context....15 Chapter 3. Survey Methods and Monitoring...................16 Chapter 4. Forest and Vegetation Survey Methods...........20 Chapter 5. Reptile Survey Methods.................................26 Chapter 6. Frog Survey Methods.....................................32 Chapter 7. Bird Survey Methods.....................................40 Tia Masolo Chapter 8. Mammal Survey Methods..............................50 Chapter 9. Freshwater Fish Survey Methods....................60 Deputy Director Environment & Conservation Division Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology 4 Ranger Skills Guide Solomon Islands 5 include the Forest & Timber Utilization Act 1969 and the Fisheries Management Act 2015 that can empower communities to manage their resources and monitor activities on the ground. As a first ranger training guide, it will help the developers gauge which specific trainings are required for the future, when and where training can be delivered particularly at Foreword community level. By initiating and developing this program with the collaboration of the Solomon Islands National University, non-government organizations, universities, and Greetings Everyone! partner organizations, and most importantly with input from rangers and community Solomon Islands hosts some of the World’s natural and unique ecosystems and species. organizations; it can become a regular and essential aspect of community development and Our coral reefs, our seas, our rivers and streams teem with abundance and diversity. Our planning. It is imperative to involve communities and rangers at the outset, as this embeds peoples depend on nature and its resources for food, income and livelihood. With rich ownership of the training program and may encourage them to further contribute to the traditional and cultural knowledge, our peoples’ wisdom in conservation of nature is not to training. be understated. Solomon Islands communities heavily depend on the wealth and health of This document also provides useful reference materials to upgrade specific ranger our natural resources for our social and economic wellbeing. proficiencies, and general information on how to apply them in the field. Furthermore, it Today, however, we face increasing economic and social challenges – growing population, does not demand nor set out skills competencies required to receive a University quality rising food and fuel costs, etc – which place considerable pressure on our natural resources. qualification. For conservationists, environmental managers and practitioners, this is a major challenge To Rangers and Practitioners, I hope you find this resource guide useful, easy-to-use to and daunting responsibility – to protect the environment. Teamwork, knowledge, passion, enable you, your stakeholders and your target audience improve the ranger field of practice experience and skills are paramount for the field of practice. For this, I am pleased to offer and know-how. you this Ranger Skills Guide. Finally, I wish to commend the outstanding expertise and commitment by the University It is a challenge to create a Ranger Training Program and to bring rangers together to of Queensland/CEPF Project team, in collaboration with Solomon Islands Community work as part of a united team, whilst at the same time building personal skill sets. Conservation Partnership and Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands, in framing this first- The development of this Guide is a first step in this process. The Guide focuses on ever Ranger Skills Guide. My Division looks forward to working and learning from you on training rangers in methods of data collection and monitoring skills. It is also essential in the outcomes of the training program. Keep up the excellent work! providing skills and information for them to think outside-the-box in terms of fundraising Let us all work together to ensure “A safe, sustainable and resilient environment for Solomon and attaining sustainability through alternative economic incentives. This Ranger Training Islands” Tangio tumas!! Resource kit is intended to assist coordinators, practitioners and other groups or individuals ………………………….. who support grassroots environmental organizations interested in identifying ranger groups Joe Horokou training needs. Director – Environment & Conservation Division Developing skills is fundamental, as it empowers community organizations to efficiently Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster deliver outcomes that achieve a conservation and sustainable management goal. In delivering Management & Meteorology this training, there will be also an overview of the Protected Areas Act 2010, by which communities can legally protect and manage land and seascapes. This will assist rangers better understand the processes required and assist community organizations develop legal mechanisms for protection and management of the environment. Other legal frameworks 6 Ranger Skills Guide Solomon Islands 7 Acknowledgment The concept of an Ranger Skills Guide course was introduced in 2015, as a way of bringing together rangers from across the Solomon Islands to a central venue, so that a course delivering specific knowledge and skill sets could be offered. The University of Queensland, in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Government Ministry of Environment, Conservation, Meteorology and Disaster Management (MECMDM), Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership (SICCP), and Ecological Solutions - Solomon Islands (ESSI) developed the training program, which was then field-test in October 2015, and in subsequent trainings in 2016. The funding provided to set up this training program was made possible by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, and Wildlife Conservation Society (Pacific Programs). For a long time, community organizations, research institutions, and the national government had been working independent of each other, in terms of collecting data, analyzing data and reporting findings to communities and to the government. Comparing findings across a sweep of community sites and local conservation organizations have been problematic due to the lack of data collection standardization, and communication between organizations. The initial training participants come from an informal network of CEPF investment sites, and other enthusiastic community organizations throughout the Solomon Islands. This also comprises the inclusion of women rangers, who are integral to village verve, and who are also major users of natural resources in the community. We thank the partner organizations, and rangers, and technical people who contributed towards this skills guide. Stevens ground dove captured during a biodiversity assessment of forest and protected areas. The samples let us know whether the species is in decline or stable. It also shows us what habitats these species are found, whether primary forests, or secondary forest, or both. In which case this species is a forest generalist. 8 Ranger Skills Guide Solomon Islands 9 Chapter 1. Introduction This guide is intended to help rangers or protected area managers in the Solomon Islands, to foster individual or group skill sets that will help them in their work. Various skills will aid rangers accomplish particular environmental outcomes, and produce improved and cohesive services that will benefit communities and the environment. The park (or protected area) rangers have many roles, and this depends on the areas that they manage, whether on a small island, an area on a large island, or at sea. In general a ranger’s responsibility can include a couple of things; conservation and protection of land or seascape and wildlife, managing recreation or guided tours for tourism operations, or assisting organizations by providing data that will help them plan and manage operations, including fundraising. The Role of a Ranger The most commonly known role of a ranger is to support the conservation of a species or a specified area. This includes: • Safeguarding the protected area, enhancing and managing it’s natural and cultural resources • Recognizing weeds and pest animals, and removing or controlling those that threatening the native plants and wildlife. • Assisting visiting scientists and researchers that conduct biodiversity or social surveys related to the management of the park or protected area • Promoting and maintaining cultural assets such as tabu sites, old village sites that are of cultural importance • Advancing co-operative relationships with local indigenous communities, as social A ranger from Tetepare giving a talk to a visiting investment and associations can