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Insofar as capacity building is concerned, this project's greatest achievement has been the organization of the first “Roviana Conservation Day” in Nusa Hope village, on July 12th, 2005, The event was organized to inaugurate the school funded by the program, to raise environmental awareness, and to collect funds for the Research Managment Committees (RMCs). Several thousand people from around the region attended this event. We showcased traditional dances, war canoe races, sport competitions, debates about conservation, environmental videos, etc. The event successfully raised several thousand Solomon dollars (SBD) to fund the operating costs of the Roviana RMCs. More importantly, perhaps, is that the head of the dominant regional church, the CFC, accepted our invitation, came, and blessed all our projects. This has given us tremendous legitimacy, as the “Spiritual Authority” publicly praised and blessed all our activities. In fact, since this event, poaching in CFC villages has greatly decreased. In addition, the Spiritual Authority has asked us to move our program to Marovo and to other areas of the Western Solomons. We have begun talks with people in Rendova, Vella Lavella, and in Kali Kolo (North New Georgia—home of the SA).
A similiar celebration called Vonavona Conservation Day is planned for July 2006 and will take place in Buni village. Click here for photos
taken during Roviana conservation day. |
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