Project Title: Establishment of Kainake Community Conservation and Research Area
Partners: United Nations Development Program - Global Environment Program (Small Grants Program)
Status: In progress (2017 - Current)
In 2014 the community at our project site in Kainake, south Bougainville, set aside 65 hectares of virgin tropical lowland rainforest for establishment as a "community conservation and research area" to inspire community led conservation efforts.
This project is currently supported by the United Nations Development Program-Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Program. In November 2015 a small Planning Grant was provided for community consultation to be conducted and social safeguards to be put in place. Following the successful community consultation, UNDP-GEF is supporting the establishment of the conservation area, building of a resource center and development of training manuals for capacity building and training.
Picture of the community resource center funded by UNDP-SGP
Part of the Kainake conservation and research area
Project Title: Community Conservation in the Solomons Phase I/II (Protection of Endangered Mammals)
Partners: Australia Museum & Segre Foundation
Status: Project Completed (2016 - 2019)
In April 2016, TKP entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Australian Museum and Geneva based Segre Foundation to undertake research and survey (Phase I) to determine the population of endangered mammals that are endemic to the Solomon Island archipelago. Phase II of the program required the environmental management plan in the conservation area.
In September 2016, a mammal survey was conducted within the Kainake Conservation area after Free and Prior Informed Consent was obtained from the community at Kainake. The research survey within the conservation area resulted in the identification of 17 species of mammals. It included the endangered giant tree rat Solomys salabrosus and the vulnerable bat Pterapus mahagnus. Also found was the rare rat Melomys bougainville. These species are now the conservation flagship species for the Kainake conservation and research area.
Melomys bougainville, an endemic Bougainville rat lives in the Kainake conservation area
The Solomys salebrosus is an endangered species, which ls being preserved within the conservation area
Project Title: Establishment of the Kagalalo Conservation Area, Buin District, South Bougainville
Partners: Australia Museum and South Bougainville District Development Authority
Status: Project ongoing (2018 - Current)
In 2018, villagers from Botulai village in the Buin District of South Bougainville invited TKP to work with the community in establishing the Kagalalo Conservation Area. The community held a cultural ceremony to traditionally formalise their intention to set aside their land for conservation. During the ceremony, bows and arrows were exchanged with the Director of TKP, Jeffrey Noro.
The Botulai conservation area is located on the foothills of Mt. Luloru and covers a gradient from 750 meters to 2100 meters above sea level. The vegetation is mostly montane forest and preliminary assessment has indicated that this conservation area is home to many of Bougainville's endemic species. At the present the Bougainville giant tree rats and monkey faced bats remain the areas conservation flagship species. A full biodiversity surveys are being planned so that we could identify the full conservation value of this critical ecosystem.
The island of Bougainville is part of the Solomon archipelago ecoregion (oceanic islands) that consists of tropical lowlands and montane forests. Bougainville and the neighbouring Solomon islands are known for their high vertebrate endemism, including single-island endemics, restricted-range mammals, and an astounding sixty-nine bird species found nowhere else in the world. Sadly these biodiversity is under threat from human activities, particularly logging along the narrow coastal strips. Over the years, feral cats have also contributed to the decline of Bougainville’s native mammals.
Exchange of bows and arrows to traditionally formalise the establishment of the Kagalalo conservation area.
Part of the Kagalalo conservation area