Community Turtle Management Plan Bamboo Bay

Abstract

Bamboo Bay is an important turtle nesting site in Malekula especially for green and hawksbill turtles. The community has been monitoring and conserving turtles, their nests and hatchlings since the 1990s. A village elder, Noel Kaibaba, was the first turtle monitor in Bamboo Bay trained by the Wan Smolbag Theatre turtle programme. The WSB turtle programme has been instrumental in promoting and supporting community turtle monitoring activities through funding support from SPREP projects. While turtle monitoring continues to be undertaken, there are challenges in sustaining interest for a voluntary activity and ensuring consistent financial support.