BY INDY MAEALASIA

The Solomon Islands Rangers Association is leading a grassroots initiative to preserve and document Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in Malaita Province before it fades away.

The effort, spearheaded by Eddie Haikau Huitara, is currently working with four conservation groups across selected communities.

The goal is to develop seasonal calendars in local languages, embedding indigenous knowledge into community-led conservation efforts.

“Right now, my team is working with a few clusters to develop seasonal calendars that include TEK,” Huitara shared during a recent Talkback show on SIBC, held to mark International Biodiversity Day.

He stressed the urgency of the initiative: “Traditional knowledge holders are becoming fewer. We keep saying TEK exists, but it has never been properly documented. We must begin at the community level—while our elders and resource people are still with us—before it’s too late.”

Despite its importance, TEK is still absent from the formal school curriculum. There is currently no official collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) and other stakeholders to integrate TEK into learning programs.

Deputy Director of Environment, Debra Kereseka, acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Environment to raise awareness among younger generations through biodiversity education in schools and past collaborations with Solomon Islands National University (SINU).

However, she emphasized that more needs to be done.

“With the increasing threats to our biodiversity, it is vital that TEK be introduced into Early Childhood Education and Primary levels to give our children a foundational understanding of their ecological heritage,” Kereseka said.

The initiative hopes to inspire broader national action and safeguard the rich ecological wisdom held by Solomon Islands communities.

For feedback,contact:[email protected]