Mai-Maasina Green Belt (MMGB) and Jubilee Australia Research Centre are excited to launch their new report ‘Sustaining Culture and Land – Why East Kwaio Communities have resisted logging.’ 

The mountains of East Kwaio hold some of the few remaining old growth primary forests in Solomon Islands. In speaking to communities of this area, this new report shows a powerful example of community resistance to large-scale logging, and the reasons why they protect their forests, noting the significance of the forest for everyday needs and as place of deep spiritual and cultural significance. 

In the Solomon Islands, logging has had significant impacts on local communities and the environment. The island of Malaita, where the East Kwaio mountains are situated, is the latest frontier for the logging industry. However, in the Kwaio Mountains, community members have chosen a different path.  

This case study draws on focus group discussions and interviews with a small group of East Kwaio community members. These rich community stories provided rare insights into the interconnected cultural, spiritual and livelihood reasons behind the community’s ongoing resistance to logging, including: 

• Deep awareness of the realities of logging: Many community members are aware of the potential damage to land and culture caused by logging, which outweighs the short-term benefits that logging companies promise.  

• Shared commitment to conservation: Focus group discussions highlighted that conservation values are widely held by women, elders and youths alike, ground in a pride of their culture and respect for ancestral teachings. 

• Expectations of ethical development: Community members described what ethical engagement by companies should look like, including respect for traditional laws and customs. 

• The relationship between people and the forest: For the research participants in the East Kwaio Mountains, the land is regarded as their mother. This relationship is strengthened by caring for the forest through spiritual practices, or in turn by receiving essential resources for the forest such as food, water, medicine and materials to support their livelihoods.  

Read the full report in English here.
Read the full report in Kwaio here.

Tommy Esau, Pacific Outreach Specialist, Jubilee Australia Research Centre 

“The launch of the case study amplifies the voices of tribal communities in the East Kwaio Mountains highlighting the negative impacts of logging and why they have resisted logging on their land. The report demonstrates communities’ deep value for culture, spiritual connections to the land and how they view their land as more than just trees or forests; it is the foundation of their existence.” 

Felix Naitoro, Treasurer, Mai Maasina Green Belt  

“Land is our sovereignty, our life, our culture’s past, present and future.”  

Ledison Solome, Community leader, Kafurumu 

“We are the guardians of the land and have been protecting it for many years. Our lives entirely depend on the land. We stand against logging and other destructive activities on our land because they will destroy our water source, food and resources, our sacred sites and our connections. Our message is protecting our land is protecting our culture, our livelihoods and future generations.” 

Contacts: 

Tommy Esau, Pacific Outreach Specialist, Jubilee Australia Research Centre 
Email: tommy@jubileeaustralia.org 
 

Cover photo: Kwailafa River, Kwaio Mountains
Photo credit: Tommy Esau