Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
the Solomon Islands Government by Foxwood. In this report, we also had the boldness
to suggest that the Solomon Islands Government should apply to UNESCO for world
heritage status for the full island of Rennell. Our report found its way to the Solomon
Islands' Parliament; and Parliament, sure enough, revoked the logging license.
Now, one feature about places like the Solomons is that an external consultant
in good standing would operate with and within a strong and useful network of the
local population, and enjoy access to various groups and individuals. Presumably,
I was known well enough in the Solomon Islands for my suggestions to be appreci-
ated: and so, the document, somehow, reached parliament.
Of course, Foxwood were not amused by this turn of events; but, they probably
looked at the bigger picture, and preferred to respect this decision, which only
compromised a small proportion of their logging interests in the country. Ironically
enough, a cyclone soon followed and felled many of the trees on Rennell; but
Rennell is cyclone prone and cyclones are natural occurrences and have no long-
lasting effects. Clear-logging the island would have been quite a different issue,
with a much more tragic, long-term outcome.
East Rennell, and only East Rennell with its Te Nggano Lake, became the first
world heritage site (WHS) in Melanesia in 1998 (Wingham
1997
). It has been
acclaimed as “a true natural laboratory for scientific study” (
http://whc.unesco.org/
en/list/854
). It remains the only nature world heritage site within the independent
nations of the Western South Pacific. While this is commendable, in hindsight, the
whole island could have been declared a WHS, but this opportunity was lost.
Meanwhile, I never found out who pushed that envelope under my hotel door in
1987. And I never asked.
Thus, Eastern Rennell and its lake have been saved, at least for a time, while it
remains doubtful if tourism has brought any significant improvements to the lives
of the islanders. To-day, there are 11 small-scale, family owned guesthouses on
Rennell advertising themselves as venues for backpackers and eco-tourists. The
island offers opportunities for bird-watchers, botanists, photographers and other
people who like to visit isolated areas or view World War II relics. The outstanding
natural beauty of the lake and the island, diving, bush walks, and trips by canoe are
a few of the available attractions (UNEP-WCMC
2008
).
Independent Melanesian nations have extensive self-rule; since land-rights are
customary, individuals and groups can sell logging rights unless impeded by central
parliamentary decisions. Sadly, traditional, 'big-man' political systems (e.g.
Oliver
1961
; Sahlins
1971
) encourage short term strategies for the acquisition and
redistribution of wealth.
At present, the question of logging still haunts Rennell: logging companies notably
find the Rennell 'pencil cedar',
Palaquium
sp., most attractive. An ethnic Chinese
logging company brought logging equipment to West Rennell in 2009 “reportedly
having signed agreements with landowners”, in return for which the company
would provide money, roads, a wharf and
vehicles
to the holders of land-rights
(Solomon Star
2010a, b
, my emphasis). Logging, as well as bauxite mining, has been
on the cards of the locals in West Rennell for some time, and many in East Rennell
fear that any such operations would lose them their World Heritage Listing.
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