Staff from Oceanswatch who are working in Temotu, Solomon Islands, undertook a learning exchange visit to Santo, Vanuatu. Chris Bone and Eddie Pae travelled to the Loru Community Conservation Area to learn about the Loru Forest Carbon Project.
The people of Loru have rejected the advances of loggers and have instead developed an extensive conservation project that aims to sell rainforest carbon offsets as a way of generating revenue for local economic development.
The Loru project was developed by the Nakau Programme Pty Ltd (jointly owned by Ekos and Live and Learn International) and is certified to the Plan Vivo standard. The Loru Forest Carbon Project is now owned and managed by an extended family in the Loru community. The area is also protected as a Community Conservation Area under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (2010).
Eddie is now able to go back to his community in Temotu with knowledge of potential ways to protect islands in the Province through a carbon trading scheme. Said Eddie: “I would like to say that this is really the best project for people living in small islands as it is viable to conserve their trees and forests and earn good money out of that in the long term rather than turning to mining and logging for a one-time payment”