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The tribal lands that are involved in the Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project are all located near the Kolombangara River and are part of the so-called Mount Maetambe Kolombangara River Corridor; an area identified as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
The Babatana forest is habitat for 19 of the 21 frog species found in the Solomon Islands, with 11 identified in a rapid biodiversity survey in the project site. The forest is home to many bird species including: Midget flowerpeckers, Golden whistlers, Song parrots, Crested cuckoo doves, black and white monarchs, White–billed crows, Blyth’s hornbills, Eclectus parrots, fruit doves, and lorikeets. Also present are Mackinlays cuckoo dove, Willy wag-tails, and kingfishers. |
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TECHNICAL STUFFThe Babatana project is a 'grouped project' that commences with the Sirebe inception project, but allows for other tribal groups to add their land to the project in subsequent years. Through the project Sirebe land became Solomon Islands first area to be registered under the Protected Areas Act 2010. It protects 836 ha of tropical lowland rainforest in south Choiseul, Solomon Islands.
Project development began in 2012 and a Project Idea Note for registration with the Plan Vivo Standard was submitted. It has since been undergoing project development in preparation for the completion of the Project Description. The project applies an "avoided forest degradation" carbon accounting methodology - otherwise termed "improved forest management" where land use is changed from logging to long term forest protection. A forest inventory was undertaken during 2015 as part of the carbon accounting for the project. The Sirebe inception project is projected to generate approximately 12,000 carbon credits annually with first issuance expected in 2020. Further projects will be added to the 'project group' in subsequent years, including Siporae and Padezaka. This will increase annual CO2 emissions reductions to >40,000 tonnes. The project will be audited by approved Plan Vivo auditors. Its carbon credits will be issued by Markit Environmental Registry in London (the world's leading environmental registry). The project will be certified to the Plan Vivo Standard. |