Tetepare Island, in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific.

Covering an area of approximately 120 square kilometres, Tetepare supports pristine lowland rainforest and a rich inshore marine area.

Tetepare Island has been recognised both nationally and internationally for its conservation significance and archaeological values.

The island’s beaches support nesting populations of three species of turtle including the endangered leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

Other species inhabiting the island and surrounding waters include the dugong (Dugon dugon), the world’s largest skink (Corucia zebrata), the endemic Tetepare White-eye (Zosterops tetepari), hornbills, tiny pygmy parrots, huge bump-headed parrot fish, schools of barracuda and pods of inquisitive dolphins.

Although it remains a mystery why human settlement ceased on Tetepare in the late 1800s, many people believe Tetepare Islanders abandoned the island due to a severe illness that befell the people as well as to head hunting pressure among tribes.

Descendants of the original inhabitants are now settled throughout the Western Province, and many of these people make regular trips to Tetepare for fishing, hunting and artisanal resource harvesting. As a result of more than 150 years without permanent settlement, Tetepare retains almost all of its primary rainforest.

The conservation of Tetepare now depends on visiting researchers and ecotourists to help avert the ever-increasing threat of logging. By visiting Tetepare Island and paying for services, you can help the landowners ensure that Tetepare Island is protected for future generations.

Funds from ecotourism and direct donations provde employment for local people and are also used to support community and sustainable livelihood projects including educational scholarships and health services. Researchers are welcome because through the accumulation of knowledge, the local, national, and international significance of the island will become better recognised.

This website has been designed for the Tetepare Descendants because this is their project. The newsletter "Tetepare Watch" is their record of achievements and this will also be of interest to other Solomon Islanders.

A second audience will be the international staff and funding agencies who want details if they are on a steep learning curve. A third audience will be the international tourist/ecotourist who wants necessary details for a short visit of days or weeks. This is why there is much information for that group.

A fourth audience is made up of researchers who are interested in specific organisms or other narrow field of study. They may be committed to spending longer periods of time and greater depths of background. They will find all of the website useful, including the "more info" pages.