Mangroves in Oibola village, Solomon Islands, are critical for coastal protection, providing fish, timber, and serving as nurseries for marine life. However, these ecosystems face significant threats from human activity, including land clearing for development and rising sea levels. Ben Waleilia leads community efforts to restore and protect mangroves, recognizing the impact of tree loss on shoreline erosion. Historical demand for building materials has accelerated mangrove degradation, with reports indicating that one-third of local mangrove forests have been cleared over the past 30 years. Waleilia emphasizes the urgency of the situation to preserve community livelihoods.
"As populations have grown in Oibola, in Malaita province, demand for firewood and construction materials have increased, and the loss of mangroves has accelerated."
"People talk about climate change and rising seas, but for me, it was simple—the mangroves were going or gone, and the sea had nothing to hold it back."
"I couldn't just sit back and watch the forest vanish," says community leader Ben Waleilia, who noted the disappearing trees and receding coastline.
"Over the past 30 years, at least a third of the surrounding mangrove forest near Oibola has been cleared."
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