Island Project News in Cook Islands, Indonesia and Solomon Islands
Seacology receives news and updates from our island projects around the world regularly. Here
are a few recent updates from September. The newly constructed geriatric ward at Atiu Village, Cook
Islands, is complete and an opening ceremony is planned for the
end of September. Allan Tuara,
Seacology's field contact in the area, will be attending the opening ceremony acting
as Seacology's representative at the ceremony and festivities. The construction of the geriatric ward was Seacology's
grant to the Atiu Community for their decision to establish
a 20 year 297-acre wildlife sanctuary and restricted fishing zone on and around
Takutea Island, Cook Islands.
From North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Seacology's
project contact sent us a detailed set of photos and descriptions of the completion
of the infrastructure portion of the projects at Tulap, Tulaun and
Ranawangko Villages. Included were scenes
of villagers working together to finish their access road. This was the last task to complete after having already completed a series of
infrastructure improvements earlier in the year using Seacology funding. In exchange for the grant for infrastructure improvements the three villages have established a permanently protected sea turtle beach area totaling 97 acres. Photos of the protected areas were also included.
Finally, Seacology's Fiji field representative Saula Vodonaivalu Jr. is heading to the Solomon
Islands in the last week in September to help Mbili Village complete the construction
of a community hall in exchange for their protection of a 21-acre marine
reserve and then on to help the Tetepare Descendants
Association start construction of a ranger station on Tetepare Island in support of their permanent
protection of the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific.
