TETEPARE Island in Western province is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific and is covered in lowland rainforest and surrounded by coral reefs. It is a global conservation icon.
Since 2002, the Tetepare Descendant’s Association (TDA) has managed Tetepare collectively for all 3500+ registered landowners.
TDA members are rewarded for their conservation efforts through benefits such as educational scholarships and employment.
TDA members have received benefits for more than two decades but a recent surge in activity has seen these benefits rise to record levels.
One way that TDA members benefit is from eco-tourism rather than logging, as guests come from all over the world to witness Tetepare’s pristine rainforest, fringing coral reefs and endangered species.
Funds from the ecolodge support conservation programs including ranger patrols and fuel. A 6 km long Marine Protected Area is also protected.
TDA Ecolodge Manager Mary Bea said, “We have been doing lots of work to improve the safety and function of our buildings that declined during the Covid years when we had no tourists”.
Two staff dormitories have been repaired thanks to a grant from DFAT, a new water supply provided by Strongim Bisnis and Bisnis link provided funds to upgrade the Tetepare jetty and wharf.
“We have employed over 100 TDA members, mostly from Lokuru, for these projects” Mary Bea said, “a record for TDA in a three-month period.”
Lue Mule from Lokuru helped build the original Tetepare Field Station in 2002 and was saved by TDA after a barracuda bit him.
Mule was also very appreciative of the recent building work he has received from TDA and the scholarships his children have received in the past.
Lokuru student Perensi Zirikolu was also very appreciative of a 2024 TDA education scholarship. Perensi hopes to study teaching when he finishes high school.
TDA monitors have also recently resurveyed seagrass, marine resources and coconut crab monitoring programs thanks to a grant provided by Conservation Agreement Fund. Brenden Zirukolo won prizes for most trochus and green snails counted in the monitoring program that includes sites inside and outside the Tetepare Marine Protected Area.
TDA Operations Manager Cameron Masakolo was very thankful that funds had been made available to restart these monitoring programs that have been carried out for 20 years.
Outgoing AVI finance mentor Peter Lonergan presented at the recent TDA Annual General Meeting that TDA has paid out more than SBD$400,000 in benefits since May, including over $100,000 for educational scholarships, $100,000 for builders and $100,000 for turtle nest protection incentives.
Additionally, local carvers were collectively paid over $80,000 from tourists on a recent cruise boat visit arranged by TDA
TDA continue to protect Tetepare Island and represent over 3500 landowners as well as provide benefits to its members.
- TDA