Our work

About the Bismarck Solomon Seas Ecoregion (BSSE)

It is the waters and streams of this region that provide the food and income for its inhabitants.

It is the beauty and natural wealth of this region that encourages others to journey here, and in doing so contribute, one hopes positively, to its development.

And it is the combination of protection, local stewardship and development that will allow the people of the Bismarck Solomon Seas to look forward to a healthy and happy future for many generations.

The region is defined by coherent biogeographic, oceanographic, geophysical and climatic boundaries. It is superimposed on one of the most geologically active and physically diverse marine environments on earth - a physical setting that encourages evolution, accumulation and persistence of species. Also known as the Western Indo Pacific Cradle of Marine Biodiversity it is perhaps one of the last tropical marine ecoregions that remains relatively unaffected by human activity.

Nestled within the expansive boundaries of the BSSE lies a unique center of tropical marine biodiversity exemplified by:

An extraordinary diversity of reefs, seagrasses, deep sea and pelagic habitats
Globally diverse centers of reef-building corals and reef fish
The largest and most critical remaining Pacific leatherback turtle nesting sites
A historic center of sperm whale abundance in the tropics
The major biogeographic transition zone between the Indonesian, Philippine, Micronesian, Coral Sea and central Pacific regions.

Stretching from the Birdshead Peninsula of the Province of Papua in Indonesia, across the Admirality and Bismarck archipelagos of Papua New Guinea, to Makira Island of the Solomon Islands, this Ecoregion binds together countries, aspirations and partnerships which will hopefully come to represent the shape of conservation in the future.

The Bismarck Solomon Seas Ecoregion map.
© WWF

Biodiversity Vision

Experts identified a total of 48 priority areas within the BSSE. 6 of these areas (in red) were considered to be globally important - rare examples found in few other places (or nowhere else) on the planet.

Another 24 sites (in yellow) were identified as outstanding on an ecoregional level, and 18 were listed (in blue) as subregionally important.

Together these 48 priority areas capture the extensive range of marine biodiversity, species and communities, that make BSSE special.

Our work in the region

WWF South Pacific works directly in the Solomon Islands and PNG parts of the BSSE and in collaboration with WWF Indonesia in Papua to deliver the BSSE Vision.

A region where care for the environment is based on a balance of traditional practices and management that utilises appropriate scientific knowledge.
A marine enviroment that will serve as the bank of the people - where a healthy and happy population can sustain its needs and fulfill aspirations.
A region where coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds, dugongs, whales and the richness of the seas are present for the world to see.
A region linked by the migratory paths of turtles and fish which bind together countries in partnerships and committments that will shape the future of conservation across the ecoregion.
A region where local people and scientists have the understanding and capacity needed to conserve the natural wealth of the marine environment well beyond the next 50 years.
A marine environment that will live in the dreams, stories, languages and songs of people for many generations to come.