PROGRAMME Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Willie Atu has expressed his appreciation for existing environment and conservancy legislation and would like to see more inclusive incentives for the country’s flora and fauna.

Mr Atu made the remarks in his presentation to the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) yesterday on behalf of TNC.

TNC has been doing forefront conservancy work for Isabel and Choiseul Province.

Willie Atu has over a decade of experience in implementing and maintaining conservation programmes in Solomon Islands with conservation knowledge that extends from the grassroots community level to the highest international levels.

He coordinated the 2004 Solomon Islands’ Rapid Ecological Assessments (REA), which resulted in Solomon Islands being included in the Coral Triangle, and subsequently led to the country being part of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).

He is active in national and regional efforts to raise the profile of conservation.

Mr Atu told the BLC yesterday that from his perspective of the Wildlife Protection and Management (Amendment) Bill 2016 he would like to see that a quota and size limits in the amendment of the existing legislation when it comes to international trade.

Hon Dr Culwick Togamana Member of Parliament (MP) for Maringe/Kokota, who too is a member of the BLC commended the work of TNC done in Isabel Province and queried if Mr Atu would consider being part of the technical body to be established through the amended existing legislation to advise the Director of Environment.

Hon Dr Culwick emphasised the importance of such a body to ensure the scientific community is always available to advise relevant ministries that are subject to the Wildlife Protection and Management (Amendment) Bill 2016.

In response, the Programme Director of TNC, Mr Atu said he would be glad to be part of the proposed technical advisory body should the Bill come into effect.

The Leader of the Official Opposition and Member of Parliament for Hograno/Kia/Havulei Hon Jeremiah Manele then questioned if TNC was ever part of the consultations of the Bill.

Mr Atu told the Committee that they were unfortunately never part of the consultations done to formulate the Bill.

Chairman of the BLC and Member of Parliament for North-West Choiseul, Hon Connelly Sandakabatu then relayed on behalf of the Committee that recommendations given by Mr Atu on behalf of TNC would be included in the recommendations of the report to be presented to Parliament and also commended the conservancy work done by TNC.