TETEPARE
 
 
THE LAST WILD ISLAND
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 Tetepare's azure lagoon, an ecotourism and nature-lovers paradise in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. By Anthony Plummer http://www.anthonyplummer.com
 
WELCOME TO TETEPARE

Tetepare Island is one of the conservation jewels of the Solomon Islands. This long, rugged island cloaked in rainforest and fringed with biodiverse reefs is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific. Home to the one of the Solomon Islands' leading conservation projects and a unique, locally-run ecolodge, Tetepare is attracting visitors from around the world.

Uninhabited for 150 years after it's people fled from the threat of headhunting, Tetepare is an island forgotten by time and swathed in mystery. But what makes this island truly extraordinary is that in a country which has lost almost all of its forests to commercial logging, Tetepare remains untouched.

Seven years ago, when the threat of logging loomed over Tetepare, the island's traditional landowners rejected logging offers and came together to together to save this last wild island of the Pacific. We formed an organisation called the Tetepare Descendants' Association (TDA) to manage and protect the island as a conservation area.

Tetepare has received international recognition for its conservation and archaeological significance. Experts from around the world, including renowned ornithologist and author Jarrod Diamond, have recommended the island be conserved. A dazzling variety of plants and animals make their home in the island’s 120 square kilometres of primary lowland rainforest – some of the last remaining in the Melanesia.

The island’s beaches support nesting populations of three species of turtle including the endangered leatherback turtle. 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 bottlenose and spinner dolphins. more

 

HELP CONSERVE TETEPARE

The Tetepare Descendants' Association needs your help to conserve Tetepare - the last wild island of the Pacific. We are raising money for a trust fund to keep our conservation program running. a green turtle from Tetepare Island

Money raised will be used for conservation work including turtle monitoring and patrolling the Marine Protected Area. To donate to the trust fund, or to support one of our conservation or community programs, click here.

 

LATEST NEWS

4 September 09

We have uploaded a new video of snorkelling in the beautiful Tetepare lagoon to our gallery page. Click here to visit the gallery to watch this video and see some of the amazing marine life in our Marine Protected Area.

16 July 09

The Tetepare Descendants’ Association held a three-day hospitality workshop on Tetepare Island this month, in an effort to promote sustainable livelihoods in the Western Province. more

29 May 09

The Tetepare Descendants’ Association held its first ever sustainable livelihoods workshop this month – an organic gardening and livelihoods workshop on Rendova Island in the Western Province. more

2 May 09

A recent survey of coral reefs around Tetepare Island has confirmed the island’s reefs are in excellent health. more

2 May 09

The TDA is celebrating a record breaking turtle-hatching season on Tetepare Island. more

 

VISIT TETEPARE
Tetepare’s pristine rainforest, rich coral reefs, fascinating cultural sites and unique wildlife attract ecotourists from around the world. Tourists can swim in azure lagoons, snorkel in one of the largest Marine Protected Areas in the Solomons, walk in the rainforest, bird watch, see rare and endangered species, assist rangers with conservation work, picnic on beaches and visit cultural sites from headhunting days.

By visiting Tetepare, ecotourists support our conservation program and help the TDA ensure Tetepare is protected for future generations. more

GALLERY

Tetepare image gallery

 

 
   
© Tetepare Descendants' Association, all rights reserved.
Website designed and built on Tetepare Island by Michaela Farrington. Images by
Anthony Plummer, unless otherwise credited.