Assessing the effects of logging on coral reefs in Solomon Islands

Abstract

The corals occurring in bays adjacent to mouths of rivers in Western Province, Solomon Islands, are being studied to quantify the effects of runoff associated with logging on coral reefs. The 5-year study aims to identify any effects of runoff on fringing coral reefs by comparing abundance, diversity, survival and recruitment of corals adjacent to , actively logged, previously logged and unlogged catchments on each of 2 islands. A pilot study comparing diversity and abundance of corals adjacent to actively logged and unlogged catchments indicated that effects of runoff on corals did not always conform to predictions, and differed between islands. For example, there was more dead coral adjacent to logged catchments at Vangunu Island, whereas at Kolombangara Island, more live coral occurred adjacent to actively logged catchments. The comparison of bays adjacent to actively logged, previously logged and unlogged catchments over 5 years is expected to provide a robust test of any effects of runoff on diversity and abundance of corals, whilst also testing for recovery from any such impacts.