“For the Yato communities in particular, this project could be a game changer,” says Wilko Bosma, Project Manager with the Nakau Programme.

Wilko has lived and worked in the Solomon Islands for almost 30 years, and became a Solomon Islands citizen in 2023. With a background in forestry, he has focused his career on improving how forest resources are managed and helping landowners pursue long‑term economic opportunities linked to responsible land use.

Through the SITHP Forest Value Enhancement Project, Wilko works with local teams – including Live & Learn and the Natural Resources Development Foundation – to support landowners in Makira, Isabel, and Western Provinces in strengthening the management of critical forest resources and developing income streams tied to responsible land use.

“We help landowners establish legally protected areas connected to forest carbon activities,” says Wilko. “This enables local landowning communities to earn income that supports both the management of these areas and their livelihoods.”

Protected Area status is an important part of this work. It provides legal clarity for landowners, and helps demonstrate the long-term stewardship commitments needed to access market-based revenue streams. It also helps communities build predictable arrangements that reduce exposure to short‑term pressures and support more reliable economic planning.

For communities, this work strengthens local systems that support stable resource use and helps expand income opportunities tied to improved land management. It reinforces efforts to generate long-lasting benefits from forest resources in ways that align with communities’ priorities.

Wilko is particularly excited about what this could mean for Yato, where communities have recently succeeded in securing legal recognition for the largest protected area in Solomon Islands.

“These communities are very isolated, and economic development has been slow and difficult,” says Wilko. Through SITHP, “people’s lives could improve significantly, including through better access to education and health services, as well as support for daily needs and livelihoods.”

“I will be more than happy to see them rewarded for this.”