A new investment initiative on Kolombangara Island in the Western Province’s New Georgia Islands group has been welcomed by the Solomon Islands Government and local stakeholders, who see potential for both economic return and environmental stewardship. Kolombangara (also referred to as Kulambangara) Island is a near circular extinct volcano about 30km across that rises 1,800m from the sea.
The investment involves long term forestry and land management planning, with an emphasis on sustainable harvesting, rehabilitation and diversified land use rather than short cycle extraction.
Kolombangara has long been a site of commercial timber activity, but the new investment partners have committed to shifting toward certified sustainable practices, reforestation programs and the development of value added wood processing locally. The approach aims to retain more economic benefit in the province, create skilled employment, and lengthen the commercial viability of forest resources.
Community engagement is central to the project, which operates in areas where customary land ownership and clan-based decision making are fundamental. Investors have agreed to ongoing dialogue with landowning groups to ensure transparent benefit sharing, dispute resolution processes and opportunities for local participation in the workforce and supply chain.
The initiative also includes plans for environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation zones and long-term soil and water management. Western Province has experienced environmental degradation linked to past logging practices, and the shift to a sustainable model is seen as necessary to protect ecosystems and livelihoods.
In the medium term, the investment also aims to support downstream industries such as small-scale timber product manufacturing, carpentry training, and plantation management skills development. These areas are expected to provide employment pathways for young people, a key concern in many rural parts of the Solomon Islands.
Officials have noted that responsible land-based investment is essential to the country’s long-term economic stability. The success of this project could set a template for other areas where investors, landowners and government agencies need to work together to achieve both commercial and social outcomes.
Main image: Kolombangara Island Courtesy Solomon Islands Tourism website.
