Tetepare Island Community Resource Conservation and Development
Tetepare Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands
Tetepare Island lies to the west of Marovo Lagoon, Western Province. Tetepare is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific, covering an area of approximately 120 square kilometres, and supports lowland rainforest and a rich inshore marine area. Human settlement ceased on the island in the late 1800s. Only one small area of forest has been disturbed for a coconut plantation; in the main, there has been very little impact on the island's terrestrial and marine resources, making it unique in the world. The island has been recognized by the National Government through the Department of Forestry, Environment and Conservation, the Western Provincial Government and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for its natural inheritance significance and archaeological values.
Commencing in 1996, a working partnership was established between WWF and descendants of Tetepare landowners. Documented meetings and discussions with Tetepare descendants on Simbo, Rendova, New Georgia, Marovo and Kolombangara have revealed an overwhelming support for conservation and sustainable resource use.
A two-year plan, funded by NZODA and the EU was drafted by two biologists who have been working with the Tetepare descendants and through WWF Solomon Islands. At a recent meeting, an organization, Tetepare Descendants’ Association (TDA), was formed in order to facilitate the two-year conservation and resource management plan and ensure the ongoing conservation of Tetepare Island. The plan has four objectives:
- Stop poaching of Tetepare resources by non-descendants through employing descendants as rangers
- Conduct studies into resource use, distribution and abundance in order to compile a sustainable conservation and resource management plan
- Establish a research station/eco-lodge on the island to provide income and employment for local descendants and support the rangers
- Ensure effective communication and involvement of all descendants in the process of planning, implementation and benefit distribution of the conservation and resource management plan.
The overall objective is to conserve Tetepare's resources for future generations through a combination of conservation and sustainable resource management.