Developing a self-sustaining protected area system: a feasibility study of national tourism fee and green infrastructure in the Solomon Islands

Abstract

This research explores how the notion of efficiency could help translate environmental policies into practices to achieve policies targets. The Institutional Analysis Development framework provides the evaluative tool and method. It follows with articulating policy directives alongside the Sustainable Finance of protected area system management perspective. As such, the research offers an interdisciplinary perspective on conservation management particularly in developing island countries where conservation is dominantly financed from international aid and characterized by a shorter time frame. This research serves as a feasibility study for the development of sustainable finance for environmental protection in the Solomon Islands. Data were collected from interviews, minutes, official documents and face-to-face communication during 2010–2012. Reflecting on the case study, more than 50% of the Solomon Islands’ environmental laws are redundant; as such, ensuring the cohesive flow of rules between laws, policies and management plan is viewed here as a first step towards effectiveness. It follows with the argument that environmental laws require to be distinguished from criminal laws and as such enforcement should be viewed within the perspective of providing provisions for innovative financing, self-reliance and ownership. Following these arguments the paper recommends that aid agencies should redirect their policies towards resource mobilization and creating internal financing to support conservation. These initiatives should also include provisions for integrating urban green management in natural resources management. A Solomon Island Environmental Trust Fund is proposed here, where national tourism fees and green infrastructure are proposed as two potential revenues.