Search the SPREP Catalogue

Wiawi is an important turtle-nesting site in Vanuatu known for hawksbill and green turtles. The significance of the area came to light after independence in the 1980s following forest conservation interests by the Forestry Department, which resulted in the setting up of the Wiawi Conservation Area. With the support of the Wan Smolbag (WSB) turtle monitoring programme in the 1990s, the community of Wiawi embarked on interventions towards strengthening sea turtle monitoring and conservation in Wiawi through the request from Chief Timothy and his brother Chief Konel Nihapi. These two community elders had worked very hard to establish the Wiawi Conservation Area and invested their time and energy to making Wiawi one of the leading community-based turtle conservation areas in the country.

Bamboo Bay is an important turtle nesting site in Malekula especially for green and hawksbill turtles. The community has been monitoring and conserving turtles, their nests and hatchlings since the 1990s. A village elder, Noel Kaibaba, was the first turtle monitor in Bamboo Bay trained by the Wan Smolbag Theatre turtle programme. The WSB turtle programme has been instrumental in promoting and supporting community turtle monitoring activities through funding support from SPREP projects. While turtle monitoring continues to be undertaken, there are challenges in sustaining interest for a voluntary activity and ensuring consistent financial support.