Soil erosion, overfishing, and urban pollution persist

To help save the reefs of the Solomon Islands, get active with these groups:

International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management

Solomon Islands Development Trust

War Beauty: A diver peers through soft corals on the wreck of a Japanese transport ship at Guadalcanal, one of dozens fouling Solomon Island reefs since WWII. Photo: Norbert Wu

Coral reef ecosystems in the Solomon Islands have very high biodiversity and are mostly in great shape, but mining, logging, and coastal development are emerging threats: Much of the country's coastal mangroves are being impacted by land clearing and logging.

In October 1997, the Solomons government formally asked Japan and the U.S. to clean up messes dating back to World War II—some 50 aircraft carriers and other naval vessels sunk in the area during fierce sea battles. Prime Minister Bartholomew Uluf'alu said the ships are simply rotting on the ocean floor, leaking oil and harming Guadalcanal's fish, corals, and other marine life.