When the threat of commercial logging loomed over Tetepare, the descendants of Tetepare’s former inhabitants came together and formed an alliance to become the Tetepare Descendants’ Association, or TDA. The goal was to protect and conserve the island for the benefit of all descendants and future generations. More than 3500 descendants have joined the Tetepare Descendants’ Association, making it one of the largest landowners’ associations in the Solomon Islands. The TDA are recognised as the legal owners of Tetepare Island.
TDA has transformed from a fledgling landowners’ organisation into a world-class community-based conservation organisation, responsible for one of the largest integrated land and marine conservation initiatives in the country. The TDA is a registered Solomon Islands charitable organisation with a Board. The TDA constitution states that our aim is to unite Tetepare’s landowners to manage and conserve Tetepare and its natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations descended from Tetepare Island. TDA members who have been instrumental in the establishment of TDA and conservation of the island include Harry and Mary Bea, Allan Tippet Bero, Katy Soapi, Lloyd Hodge, Henry Seda, Peter and Sara Siloko, Petrie Sute, Kido Dalipada and inaugural chairman, Jack Daniel. Australian-based biologists and long-time supporters of the TDAÂ John Read and Katherine Moseby ([email protected] or [email protected]) continue to support the Tetepare Project as TDA patrons.
We have built a field station on Tetepare and established the largest contiguous marine protected areas in the Solomon Islands – a 13-kilometre no-take zone. The Marine Protected Area or MPA supports healthy populations of fish species, large and small, as well as species such as the green snail and giant clam, which have disappeared from many parts of the Solomons. We employ rangers and marine monitors to patrol and monitor the MPA, and conduct scientific research and conservation programs.
We have created an ecolodge on Tetepare for tourists, which employs local people and raises money to assist the conservation program. Ecotourists come from around the world to enjoy Tetepare’s pristine beauty and unique wildlife. Visitors are inspired by seeing our conservation project in action and visitor numbers to the Tetepare ecolodge are growing every year.
The success of the Tetepare project lies in its ability to provide real benefits to its communities. One of the most tangible benefits is employment opportunities. We employ more than 30 casual hospitality workers, including cooks and guides. To manage and run the conservation program, we employ rangers who work in rotating shifts, marine monitors, female seagrass monitors and boat drivers. Many more local community members have benefited from the project through casual work in construction on the island, and through the sale of vegetables to the ecolodge.Â