Nut Oil Processing and Ecotourism, Makira Island, Solomon Islands

by Solomon Islands Development Trust

Partners:

Conservation International (CI) Maruia Society Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT)

1997 Update

The Ecotourism enterprise follows a strategy that was developed in 1996. The community has set a limit of three tours per year. The 10 day tours (for a maximum group size of 15) provide visitors the opportunity to directly experience the natural and cultural wonders of this unique rainforest. This enterprise directly involves most of the Highlands population and some villages on the North Coast of Makira -- in all around 500 people. Tours were run in September of 1996, and July of 1997 with the third tour currently underway as this report is being written.

The July ecotour brought in SD$9100 (approximately US$2500) to Makira communities, which was the largest sum yet. The coastal community at Togori put all of their share of the earnings from this tour into a community fund, with noone taking a private share. The Togori fund is used for community works and amounts to SI $1885 (approximately US $510). These were their share of the revenues received for two nights of accommodation, food and entertainment as well as carriers and guides for both days.

The Highland communities continued their established system of sharing out the bulk of the money earned in the ecotour to individuals within the communities. Such distribution puts the responsibility for the use of the money in people's own hands. The total amount distributed to highland villages was SI$6615 (approximately US$1780). A small amount of SI$600 (approximately US$160) has been put aside from the latest tour for a community fund for Highland villages. The income from the June ecotour amounts to approximately 40% of the total cash generated in the Highland communities over the last year.

The Ngali Nut Oil enterprise involves the local production of oil for the cosmetic industry. This production involves communities and individuals at Warihito, Highlands, North Coast and Wainoni Extension areas, affecting more than 600 individuals.

The Warihito Ngali Nut Press is the only one of its kind in the South Pacific. This was confirmed during the Indigenous Nuts of the South Pacific' Conference held from July 21 to 25, 1997 in Honiara. There was wide attendance at the conference by other producers and it became clear that Makira's ngali nut oil enterprise was well ahead of other nut products in terms of its production and marketing development.

Significant work was done with partners to develop markets for the ngali nut oil product. Given the positive market responses in 1996, a decision was made to increase production and to extract 1000 liters for the rest of the calendar year, an increase of 30% over 1996 production. It seems likely that production will increase again and so training for local staff in production planning is being provided.

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