ABSTRACT
Solomon Islands is a scattered archipelago comprising hundreds of mountainous islands and low-lying coral atolls in the south-west Pacific. The six largest islands are Choiseul, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal, Malaita and San Cristobal (Makira). Most of these islands have central mountain ranges that rise rapidly from the ocean, and with the exception of the plains on northeast Guadalcanal, there is little coastal plain. Contemporary settlements are concentrated in the coastal areas, which are bordered by mangroves, coral-reef lagoons, or open oceans. The country includes many inhabited coral atolls, including the low-lying Ontong Java (or Lord Howe) and Sikaiana, and the raised atolls of Rennell and Bellona; as well as low-lying artificial islands built in relatively shallow lagoons off mainland Malaita. Many communities are experiencing what they believe to be the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels. In some places, this has already induced the relocation of entire communities from small islands and atolls to the coastal areas of larger islands nearby. Other communities are currently discussing the prospect of relocating to higher ground.
