TNC Country Director, Ms. Natasha Sokeleke (standing, first from left), Mbalo Paramount Chief Adarai (standing, second from left), Guadalcanal Provincial Government Environmental Officer, Mr. Ben Salepo (seated, first from right), and President of the Guadalcanal Province Council of Women, Ms. Stella Kokopu (seated, fifth from right), together with participants from the Tasi Mauri and Bolomona regions, pose for a group photo following the final Ridge to Reef Participatory Workshop.
TNC, GPG & GPCW successfully conducted the final Ridge to Reef Participatory Workshop in the Tasi Mauri Region.
Mbalo Village, Moli Ward, Tasi Mauri Region, Guadalcanal Province – 14 October 2026.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in joint-collaboration with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) and the Guadalcanal Province Council of Women (GPCW), successfully conducted the final Ridge to Reef Participatory Workshop under the SOMACORE Programme. The final workshop brought together representatives from eight wards: Malango, Vulolo, Vatukulau, Avuavu, Talise, Moli, Tetekanji, and Birao.
Funded through the Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) Programme, the Ridge to Reef Project promotes a holistic management approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of terrestrial (ridge) and marine (reef) ecosystems, while strengthening the resilience of both communities and biodiversity.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms. Natasha Sokeleke, TNC Country Lead, emphasized that Guadalcanal Province stands among the few islands in the Solomon Islands to implement the Ridge to Reef initiative, despite ongoing pressures from mining and logging activities that threaten biodiversity.
The participatory workshop provided a safe and inclusive space where ward representatives—both men and women—openly discussed challenges, shared concerns, and identified solutions for sustainable resource management.
Mr. Ben Salepo, Environmental Officer of the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, called upon the people of Guadalcanal to unite in safeguarding the province’s potential biodiversity heritages, cultural heritages and securing a sustainable future for its communities.
In addition, Ms. Stella Kokopu, President of the Guadalcanal Province Council of Women, emphasized that the inclusion of women through gender equity, empowerment, and active decision-making not only forms an integral part of the Ridge to Reef approach, but must also be encouraged and embedded across every level of society.
As the Ridge to Reef Project approaches its finale, TNC remains committed to publishing and launching the complete report to the Guadalcanal Provincial Government and its people by December 2026, ensuring that the lessons, outcomes, and pathways identified are shared widely and guide future conservation efforts.
Finally, TNC is calling on all stakeholders to work closely with the Guadalcanal Provincial Government and its people to safeguard biodiversity, strengthen governance, and advance environmental development goals—ensuring that the Ridge to Reef legacy continues to benefit present and future generations.