11 Apr 2016

NGO pushes sustainability in Melanesia

3:47 pm on 11 April 2016
Stage one of making Virgin Coconut Oil, cracking the nuts at Ngadeli village, Reef Islands.

Stage one of making Virgin Coconut Oil, cracking the nuts at Ngadeli village, Reef Islands. Photo: Courtesy of Oceans Watch

A New Zealand NGO working with remote Pacific Island communities says creating sustainble livelihoods could help stop exploitation.

President of Oceans Watch, Chris Bone, says through their network they assist remote communities in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

He says villagers in Temotu in the eastern parts of the Solomons are constantly being offered cash by companies wanting to mine and log their land.

Mr Bone said projects like his organic coconut oil initiative could give communities more financial independence and a better option than giving up their scant natural resources.

"All they have is their land all they have is their forests that is how they live their houses are made from their forests, their livelihood is from their forests, their food is from their gardens and without that they have got nothing. They really need a way of feeling resilient to be able to say no we can actually survive without selling our resources. We can be strong here."

Chris Bone said their project which was teaching islanders in Temotu to make high grade virgin coconut oil and then helping them market that product back in New Zealand for market created a neat little industry for the community.