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This program has established a network of community-based Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and seasonal "no-take" zones under customary sea tenure in the Roviana and Vonavona Lagoons, Western Province, Solomon Islands (see AMBIO paper). The ongoing activities are for resource-management purposes, but unlike most conservation initiatives that focus exclusively on preservation, this project also works towards the developmental needs of comunities across Roviana and Vonavona. We are economically empower rural communities by establishing long-term cash enterprises and infrastructural initiatives such as clinics and schools, while simultaneously promoting resource management and conservation. Permanent marine protected areas and spatio-temporal refugia have been established to protect critical ecosystems and resources in the following habitats: 1) shallow inner-lagoon reefs, 2) inner-lagoon sea grass beds, 3) mangroves, and 4) outer-lagoon reef-drops.
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The
Roviana and Vonavona Lagoons are located in southwestern New Georgia
Island. Roviana is protected by a series of offshore raised reef islands
reaching between 20 and 40 meters high. Within the lagoon, which has
a maximum depth of approximately 40 meters, there are small islets,
coral reefs, and intertidal reef flats. Numerous human settlements
are located both in the islets and on the New Georgia mainland. The
Vonavona Lagoon, adjacent to Roviana, lies northwest of New Georgia
between Kohinggo and Parara islands and has a similar topography to
Roviana. The lagoons are characterized by highly mosaic ecosystems
consisting of grass beds, mangroves, freshwater swamps, shallow reefs,
deep lagoons, outer-reef-drops, and river estuaries. Terrestrial habitats
include lowland, mountain, and moss forests. Biological richness makes
management of this bio-geographically-significant area important for
regional conservation efforts within the