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Posted 3:00 PM by Tevita

Book Review: SOLOMON ISLANDS --A SOUTH SEAS JOURNEY

From : Island Business

Living in the SolomonsPatrick Pikacha Photographer and writer Mike McCoy lived in the Solomon islands for 26 years, from the late 60s to the mid-90s. His work is well known, both within the Solomons and internationally. In the 80s and 90s, McCoy was a regular contributor to ISLANDS BUSINESS. This latest book of his is a beautifully written and superbly photographed account of his many years as a Solomons resident.The foreword is written by Professor Tim Flannery, internationally renowned environmental scientist, best-selling author, and 2007 Australian of the Year. Flannery writes: “Mike McCoy lived in Solomon Islands for 26 years, and he has visited virtually every island of the group, consequently, very few people know this remote archipelago as well. Thankfully, as this book attests, he also ranks among the world’s great natural history photographers. His photographs of submarine life are as stunning as his land-based images, and very few photographers can achieve such empathetic images of indigenous peoples. Having worked with him in the Solomons, I think perhaps that’s because McCoy is known and loved throughout the islands, allowing him to view and photograph the Solomons people as true friends and compatriots.There are many islands and experiences portrayed in McCoy’s book; accounts that still captivate one’s imagination, and recall the romantic South Pacific of the long ago days of Conrad, Maugham and London. For such places do still exist in the Solomons and McCoy’s travels to such remote and isolated islands are brought to life in his book. For example, his account of his visit to tiny Anuta Island in the far-flung Eastern Outer Islands. Anuta is very rarely visited by outsiders, and little is known of the island (even by Solomon Islanders). Accounts such as this makes McCoy’s book and its images an invaluable treasure, not only as a pictorial masterpiece of the Solomons, but more importantly for what I believe will come to be a long respected photographic record of our history. The book begins with a series of personal essays of McCoy’s associations and interactions with the people and cultures of the Solomons, as well as with the diverse creatures—both below and above the water—that occupy this amazing archipelago. The photographs are separated into three categories: Reefs, Rainforests, and Islanders. The first section in this book covers the beautiful and pristine underwater world which the Solomon Islands is well known for. The second section of the book deals with rainforests and their amazing biodiversity. There are photographs of extremely rare giant native rats, endemic frogs and skinks, as well as sweeping aerial images of the emerald green forests that clothe these high oceanic islands. At a time when the Solomons is rapidly loosing its rainforests to logging and deforestation to make way for the planting of large tracts of palm oil, such awareness of the unique biodiversity of these islands becomes especially meaningful.The last section of the book portrays the people of the Solomons. There are many ethnic groups and cultures throughout these islands, and this is reflected in the more than 90 languages spoken here. McCoy’s photographs capture the many shades of Solomon Islanders: the Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians who call this vast archipelago home.As a resident naturalist in the Solomons I’ve not seen a photographic book as in-depth and which highlights the truly exceptional beauty of this island country as does McCoy’s title. With its 176 pages of magnificent photographs (many of which are historically significant), it is a highly recommended work and worthy of inclusion in the library of anyone with an interest in this beautiful corner of our planet.It is also worthy of note that Solomon Islands - A South Seas Journey is the first book of its kind - hardcover, glossy, coffee-table format - to be published in Solomon Islands.

The publisher is Zipolo Habu Resort in Western Province, and they are to be congratulated for having the foresight to bring McCoy’s talents to an international audience. Written and Photographed by Michael McCoy Published by Zipolo Habu, Munda, 2006; ISBN 978 982 98011 1 1; 176pp, hard cover. Available from the Solomons’ distributor: Makcell Enterprises, PO Box 90, Gizo, Solomon Islands (ppurcell@solomon.com.sb) or from the USP Book Centre of the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. Sample pages can be viewed online at: www.goldendolphin.com/McCoyBk/McCoy01.htm



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PAPGREN coordination and support IPGRI ACIAR NZAID CTA SPC PAPGREN CEPaCT Click on the thumbnail to see a map of the locations of Pacific genebanks. Click here to download a regional directory of genebanks in the Pacific, including information on their location, contact details and holdings. PAPGREN partners Mr William Wigmore Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture Department of Resources & Development P.O. Box 96 Rarotonga Cook Islands Tel: (682) 28711-29720 Fax: (682) 21881 Email: cimoa@oyster.net.ck Mr Adelino S. Lorens Chief Agriculture Pohnpei Office of Economic Affairs P.O. Box 1028 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Tel: (691) 3202400 Fax: (691) 3202127 Email: pniagriculture@mail.fm Dr Lois Englberger Island Food Community of Pohnpei Research Advisor P.O. Box 2299 Kolonia Pohnpei 96941 Federated States of Micronesia Email: nutrition@mail.fm Mr Apisai Ucuboi Director of Research Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest Koronivia Research Station P.O. 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Box 1828 Boroko National Capital District Papua New Guinea Tel: (675) 3235511 Fax: (675) 3234733 Email: kambuou@global.net.pg Ms Laisene Samuelu Principal Crop Development Officer Crops Division Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Fisheries & Meteorology P.O. Box 1874 Apia Samoa Tel: (685) 23416-20605 Fax: (685) 20607-23996 Email: lsamuelu@lesamoa.net Mr Jimi Saelea Director of Research Department of Agriculture and Livestock P.O. Box G13 Honiara Guadalcanal Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 27987 Mr Tony Jansen Planting Materials Network Kastom Gaden Association Burns Creek, Honiara P.O. Box 742 Honiara Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 39551 Email: kastomgaden@solomon.com.sb Mr Finao Pole Head of Research Ministry of Agriculture & Forests P.O. Box 14 Nuku'alofa Tonga Tel: (676) 23038 Fax: (676) 24271 Email: thaangana@hotmail.com Mr Frazer Bule Lehi Head of Research Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Private Mail Bag 040 Port Vila Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22525 Fax: (678) 25265 Email: flehi@hotmail.com Other links Other CROP agencies Forum Secretariat University of the South Pacific SPREP Pacific biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Breadfruit Institute Hawaiian native plants Intellectual property rights Nature Conservancy PBIF PestNet SIDS WWF South Pacific Program Other Pacific organizations Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Micronesian Seminar Te Puna web directory Pacific news Cafe Pacific CocoNET Wireless Island Directory Pacific Islands News Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands Travel Pacific Time South Pacific travel Time Pacific Interested in GIS? DIVA-GIS	Tuesday, January 01, 2008 Posted 3:00 PM by Tevita Book Review: SOLOMON ISLANDS --A SOUTH SEAS JOURNEY From : Island Business Living in the SolomonsPatrick Pikacha Photographer and writer Mike McCoy lived in the Solomon islands for 26 years, from the late 60s to the mid-90s. His work is well known, both within the Solomons and internationally. In the 80s and 90s, McCoy was a regular contributor to ISLANDS BUSINESS. This latest book of his is a beautifully written and superbly photographed account of his many years as a Solomons resident.The foreword is written by Professor Tim Flannery, internationally renowned environmental scientist, best-selling author, and 2007 Australian of the Year. Flannery writes: “Mike McCoy lived in Solomon Islands for 26 years, and he has visited virtually every island of the group, consequently, very few people know this remote archipelago as well. Thankfully, as this book attests, he also ranks among the world’s great natural history photographers. His photographs of submarine life are as stunning as his land-based images, and very few photographers can achieve such empathetic images of indigenous peoples. Having worked with him in the Solomons, I think perhaps that’s because McCoy is known and loved throughout the islands, allowing him to view and photograph the Solomons people as true friends and compatriots.There are many islands and experiences portrayed in McCoy’s book; accounts that still captivate one’s imagination, and recall the romantic South Pacific of the long ago days of Conrad, Maugham and London. For such places do still exist in the Solomons and McCoy’s travels to such remote and isolated islands are brought to life in his book. For example, his account of his visit to tiny Anuta Island in the far-flung Eastern Outer Islands. Anuta is very rarely visited by outsiders, and little is known of the island (even by Solomon Islanders). Accounts such as this makes McCoy’s book and its images an invaluable treasure, not only as a pictorial masterpiece of the Solomons, but more importantly for what I believe will come to be a long respected photographic record of our history. The book begins with a series of personal essays of McCoy’s associations and interactions with the people and cultures of the Solomons, as well as with the diverse creatures—both below and above the water—that occupy this amazing archipelago. The photographs are separated into three categories: Reefs, Rainforests, and Islanders. The first section in this book covers the beautiful and pristine underwater world which the Solomon Islands is well known for. The second section of the book deals with rainforests and their amazing biodiversity. There are photographs of extremely rare giant native rats, endemic frogs and skinks, as well as sweeping aerial images of the emerald green forests that clothe these high oceanic islands. At a time when the Solomons is rapidly loosing its rainforests to logging and deforestation to make way for the planting of large tracts of palm oil, such awareness of the unique biodiversity of these islands becomes especially meaningful.The last section of the book portrays the people of the Solomons. There are many ethnic groups and cultures throughout these islands, and this is reflected in the more than 90 languages spoken here. McCoy’s photographs capture the many shades of Solomon Islanders: the Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians who call this vast archipelago home.As a resident naturalist in the Solomons I’ve not seen a photographic book as in-depth and which highlights the truly exceptional beauty of this island country as does McCoy’s title. With its 176 pages of magnificent photographs (many of which are historically significant), it is a highly recommended work and worthy of inclusion in the library of anyone with an interest in this beautiful corner of our planet.It is also worthy of note that Solomon Islands - A South Seas Journey is the first book of its kind - hardcover, glossy, coffee-table format - to be published in Solomon Islands. The publisher is Zipolo Habu Resort in Western Province, and they are to be congratulated for having the foresight to bring McCoy’s talents to an international audience. Written and Photographed by Michael McCoy Published by Zipolo Habu, Munda, 2006; ISBN 978 982 98011 1 1; 176pp, hard cover. Available from the Solomons’ distributor: Makcell Enterprises, PO Box 90, Gizo, Solomon Islands (ppurcell@solomon.com.sb) or from the USP Book Centre of the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji. Sample pages can be viewed online at: www.goldendolphin.com/McCoyBk/McCoy01.htm * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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