Solomon Islands calls for stronger, accessible financing to support land restoration, sustainable agriculture and drought resilience at UNCCD COP17.
Solomon Islands calls for stronger, more accessible, and predictable financing to support land restoration, sustainable agriculture, and drought resilience at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia.
Speaking during the Ministerial Dialogue on Innovative Financial Mechanisms yesterday, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Franklyn Derek Wasi, highlighted the urgent need for financing solutions that respond to the particular circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“For Solomon Islands, where more than 80 percent of people depend on land for their livelihoods, food security, culture, and economic well-being, climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and drought are placing increasing pressure on communities and sustainable development.”
Minister Wasi said healthy land should be viewed not simply as an environmental priority, but as an important economic asset that supports livelihoods, strengthens resilience, improves food security, and reduces the long-term costs associated with disasters and climate impacts.
He called for simplified access to international climate and environmental finance, noting that limited fiscal capacity, high adaptation costs, and complex funding requirements continue to create barriers for vulnerable countries.
“Solomon Islands supports innovative financing mechanisms, including blended and concessional finance, resilience-focused insurance, payments for ecosystem services, and sustainability-linked investments,” he said.
Minister Wasi also emphasized that successful financing must involve strong partnerships among governments, development partners, financial institutions, the private sector, communities, and customary landowners.
Such partnerships are essential to ensuring responsible land stewardship, equitable benefit-sharing, and sustainable land management.
“At the national level, Solomon Islands is advancing sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, landscape restoration, climate-resilient farming, and integrated land-use planning to strengthen food security, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and economic development,” he said.
UNCCD COP17 provides an important global platform for countries to address land degradation and drought while mobilizing resources for sustainable land management. Solomon Islands is using the opportunity to advocate for financing that is accessible, inclusive, innovative, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable countries and communities.
Minister Wasi reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ readiness to work with partners to advance practical financing solutions that invest in resilient communities, healthy land, and sustainable development for present and future generations.
Solomon Islands is currently represented at the COP17 by the Minister Franklyn Derek Wasi, Michael Ho’ota MALD Deputy Secretary Technical (DST), MALD Director Research Martin Jaiki and Petra Urahora MALD Deputy Director Projects Extension Department.
SOURCE; MALD PRESS RELEASE
