ESSI is a Solomon Islands-based environmental consulting company. We have been operating in the country since 2012.

Ecological Solutions – Solomon Islands (ESSI) is a locally registered environmental consulting firm incorporated under Company Haus in 2012. Since its establishment, the company has played an active role in supporting ecological research, biodiversity assessments, and environmental monitoring initiatives throughout Solomon Islands. Headquartered in Gizo, within Western Province, and maintaining operational links to Honiara, the organisation works across a wide geographical range of islands and marine environments. Its field activities extend from Choiseul to the New Georgia Islands and beyond, reflecting a commitment to serving communities and ecosystems across the archipelago.

Over the years, Ecological Solutions has provided technical expertise for terrestrial and marine ecological surveys, environmental impact assessments, conservation planning, and natural resource management initiatives. The company frequently collaborates with government agencies, non-government organisations, research institutions, and local communities to collect baseline ecological data, assess biodiversity values, and inform sustainable development planning. Its work often integrates scientific survey methods with traditional ecological knowledge, ensuring that research outcomes are both technically robust and locally relevant.

By maintaining a strong presence in both provincial and national centres, the organisation bridges field-based research with policy and planning processes. Through more than a decade of continuous operation, Ecological Solutions has contributed significantly to advancing ecological knowledge, strengthening environmental governance, and promoting sustainable management of the Solomon Islands’ unique and diverse natural environments.

This page is a summary of our current team. We consist of a core of ESSI members and experts on the environment of Solomon Islands, and island Melanesia. Our staff numbers vary, based on projects and deliverables.

David Boseto is a Solomon Islands environmental scientist and co-director of Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands (ESSI). Trained in marine science at the University of the South Pacific and environmental science at Texas A&M University, he specializes in ichthyology and community-based conservation. Boseto works with customary landowners to map resources, develop land-use plans, and protect biodiversity across the Solomon Islands. In 2016, he was recognized as a “Hotspot Hero” by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund for advancing locally led conservation in the East Melanesian biodiversity hotspot. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-boseto-38498183/

Douglas Pikacha Jr is an ecologist, staff member at Ecological Solutions – Solomon Islands, and an avid nature photographer from the Solomon Islands. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Geography and a Postgraduate Diploma in Biology from the University of the South Pacific. Douglas has gained regional recognition through multiple wins in The Nature Conservancy’s Oceania Photo Contest, including category-winning images of Solomon Islands landscapes, wildlife, plants and people, as well as highly commended entries, showcasing his talent for capturing the natural beauty and biodiversity of his homeland. https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-junior-pikacha-2469a4265/

Ikuo Tigulu is a biologist and field researcher with Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands (ESSI). He specializes in biodiversity research, ecological surveys, and conservation initiatives across the Solomon Islands. Tigulu has participated in field expeditions documenting native fauna, including reptiles, birds, and forest ecosystems, while also conducting species inventories and ecological monitoring. He engages closely with local communities, training rangers, supporting forest restoration, and integrating traditional knowledge into conservation practices. His work strengthens the link between scientific research and practical, community-led biodiversity protection across the islands, contributing to sustainable environmental management. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikuo-gumo-tigulu-b5ba081aa/

Isaac Qoloni is a field biologist and emerging freshwater ecologist who has served as a GIS officer and local field biologist with Ecological Solutions – Solomon Islands. He has contributed to ecological research across the Solomon Islands, including biodiversity mapping and freshwater fish studies that were presented at international science conferences, demonstrating his role in documenting river ecosystems and supporting conservation planning. Qoloni has also been involved in collaborative research on fish ecology, co-authoring scientific posters on freshwater biodiversity in Guadalcanal rivers. His work bridges field survey skills, spatial data analysis, and ecological advocacy to inform sustainable natural resource management in the region. https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-qoloni-0869052ba/

Patrick G. Pikacha is a highly experienced Melanesian ecologist and co‑director of Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands (ESSI). With a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, he has worked for more than 20 years on biodiversity research, community‑based natural resource management, and sustainable development across the Pacific. Beyond the Solomon Islands, Dr. Pikacha has held academic and research roles in Papua New Guinea, including as Senior Lecturer in Ecology at Pacific Adventist University in Port Moresby and as a research collaborator on Melanesian biodiversity studies, and development studies, covering both Solomon Islands and PNG. His regional work integrates scientific research with indigenous knowledge to support conservation across Melanesia. https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-g-pikacha-07065566/

Gold Ridge Environmental and Social Baseline Study

Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands (ESSI) was contracted by the Central Guadalcanal Constituency to undertake an integrated social and environmental assessment of the Gold Ridge Mine on Guadalcanal. The work combined a community-based social baseline survey with a detailed physical environmental investigation of the Metapona River catchment system, providing both human and ecological evidence to inform constituency and national decision-making.

The social baseline study, completed in December 2025, examined community perceptions of mining impacts among residents living within the mine tenement and downstream communities. Field surveys were conducted between 21–29 July using structured questionnaires administered by trained enumerators working alongside customary landowners. Findings revealed widespread dissatisfaction with current mining operations, low awareness of mining agreements, perceptions of poor regulatory compliance, reported harassment and weak grievance mechanisms, and strong concern over health impacts linked to contaminated water and environmental degradation.

Cultural impacts were also documented, including disturbance of customary land, erosion of traditional authority structures, and reduced intergenerational knowledge transfer. Parallel to the social work, ESSI conducted a comprehensive environmental impact assessment across six sub-catchments of the Metapona River system, including the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), covering approximately 206.5 km². Thirteen key sampling sites were assessed for water quality, sediment contamination, heavy metals, and aquatic ecology. Results showed extremely elevated turbidity and total suspended solids in tributaries draining from the Charivunga–Chovohio sub-catchments, with some sites recording turbidity more than 90 times above guideline limits.

Dissolved arsenic exceeded WHO drinking water guidelines at TSF sites and along the Metapona River near Kemami village. Sediment analyses revealed arsenic concentrations above ANZECC Upper Guideline Values in multiple locations, particularly at TSF (West end), Mavarakama, and Chovohio, indicating elevated ecological risk. Contamination Factor and Pollution Index comparisons with 2016 baseline data confirmed increased arsenic pollution in several sites.

Together, ESSI’s consultancy delivered an integrated evidence base demonstrating strong alignment between community perceptions of environmental harm and measured ecological degradation. The combined outcomes provide the Central Guadalcanal Constituency with scientifically grounded and socially validated data to support strengthened environmental safeguards, regulatory enforcement, and improved accountability in the ongoing management of Gold Ridge Mine.