Book launch photo, a new milestone, and how to be an eco-tourist!

The public launches have taken place in Honiara and Australia for TDA patron John Read's new book on Tetepare, 'The Last Wild Island'. The launches received significant media coverage in the Solomons, and the book is now available for purchase online in Australia, and from the Lime Lounge and other limited outlets in Honiara.

Pictured above with John are TDA stalwarts Mary Bea (far left) and Jack Daniel (far right) who both feature strongly in John's book, and who also made it to Honiara for the launch party.

The TDA are hopeful that John's book will bring further positive attention to Tetepare, both from conservationists and from eco-tourists. The timing of the launch couldn't have come at a better time for the island, which has just celebrated its first month with an average occupancy rate of 50%!

But more eco-tourists means that the island's resources and unique flora and fauna need to be protected all the more from any potential damage that increased tourist numbers may bring. With that in mind, it's good to see organisations such as the IUCN offering advice on how to be a good eco-tourist. While some of what they say may seem obvious, they do offer some genuinely helpful tips...have a look here http://www.iucn.org/?uNewsID=7253 for the full story.

Collaborating with KIBCA

The TDA were recently approached by KIBCA (the Kolombangara Island Biodiversity Conservation Association), proposing some closer collaboration on marketing and tourism activities.

Given the two organisations' geographical proximity and shared interests in conservation and eco-tourism, the TDA think this is an excellent idea!

The first evidence of the closer co-operation between the two bodies will be cross-promotion on each of our websites; the TDA's website will soon be updated to carry a link to KIBCA's site, where you will already find reference to the TDA...why not take a look here  http://www.kolombangara.org/tetepare

And have a look at this link too - http://www.kolombangara.org/info-sheets-maps - this provides excellent information on what to do and see on the amazing island of Kolambangara.

Latest newsletter..Tetepare Watch March 2011

We're happy to announce the publication of the TDA's latest newsletter.

It features articles on all the new building work, upcoming conservation efforts, the introduction of even more savings clubs and work being done in partnership with the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau.

If you would like a soft copy, please send a request to teteparebookings@gmail.com

A Riveting Read

One of the TDA's patrons, John Read, has just written a fascinating book about his family's time on Tetepare.

John describes the book as 'part travelogue, part social and environmental commentary on the Solomon Islands, with Tetepare Island as a microcosm', and it is due to be published in late April this year.

The book, called 'The Last Wild Island: Saving Tetepare' has just been reviewed by Lonely Planet, and their review can be found here  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/solomon-islands/travel-tips-and-articles/76490 

Building a better Tetepare

Thanks to grants from the New Zealand High Commission for a guest eatery, and from Seacology for a new staff dormitory, two new impressive structures have started taking shape on the island.

The hope is that both sets of building work will be completed by the start of June this year, meaning that our guests will have somewhere much more comfortable to eat, and our staff will have somewhere much more comfortable to sleep!

These pictures show the early stages of foundation-digging for the staff dormitory, and the moment that the contracts were signed in the Tetepare field station for the entire dormitory construction project.

Tetepare and the cost of fuel in the Solomons

Despite the cost of inflation for most items in the Solomons being only 1% during the second half of 2010, the cost of fuel has unfortunately risen over 15% in the last three months.

Like many of our fellow tourism providers here in the Western Province, we're sorry to say that we can't keep absorbing this significant extra cost; and as a not-for-profit business, these price increases really affect our ability to do our crucial conservation and livelihoods work.

So, from March 1st 2011, we are going to have to apply a temporary fuel surcharge to all our boat transfers and boat-related activities on Tetepare; hopefully we shall soon see fuel costs drop back down to pre-Christmas 2010 prices, and we'll soon be able to do away with our surcharge.

Below is a copy of the announcement that has been posted in the TDA's Munda office and on Tetepare. Our Bookings Officer will be attempting to contact all those guests who have made reservations in the coming weeks and months to advise them of this change to our prices.

Tetepare: temporary fuel surcharge

Unfortunately, the price of fuel has risen by over just over 15% in the last three months, and this means that the TDA's costs have also risen significantly.

To help us deal with these price increases, we are having to introduce a temporary fuel surcharge on boat transfers and all other boat-related activities around Tetepare.

The surcharge will be 15%, and will take effect from March 1st 2011.

This means, for example, that single-leg transfers between Tetepare and Munda will increase in price from 1200 SBD to 1400 SBD.  And the 'turtle rodeo' price will increase from 350 SBD to 400 SBD.

Once fuel prices return to their pre-Christmas 2010 levels, we shall remove this temporary surcharge immediately.

We thank you for your understanding.

The Tetepare Descendants' Association

New harvest-restriction signs on Tetepare

This week our Conservation Manager John Paranga, working alongside the TDA's Conservation Advisor Gillian Goby, has put up new signs announcing harvesting restrictions for the first of two key areas on and around Tetepare. These closures last for 12 months, and mean that even typically sustainable harvesting activities are to be suspended, to help stocks become healthy again. More detail about the origins of these seasonal closures can be found in the TDA December 2010 newsletter, available at tetepare.org.

Welcome

Welcome to the first post of our Tetepare News Blog, where we will be bringing you all the latest news from Tetepare Island, one of the conservation jewels of the Solomon Islands.

More to come soon.