Solomon Islands

Marovo - Tetepare Complex

WHS Score 0.0 Votes 0
Marovo – Tetepare Complex is a mixed site consisting of Marovo Lagoon, the world’s largest saltwater lagoon, and surrounding islands that provide some of the greatest examples of Pacific biomes, including coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove forests, and lowland and montane rainforests. The complex contains one of the highest levels of coral diversity in the world, and has more endemic bird species on an area basis than anywhere else on earth. The complex also supports a rich Melanesian culture, distributed amongst more than 50 villages, whose cultural and spiritual life is tied closely to the natural environment of the islands.
>

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Marovo - Tetepare Complex (ID: 5414)
Country
Solomon Islands
Status
On tentative list 2008 Site history
History of Marovo - Tetepare Complex
Criteria
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
News Article

Community Information

Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
No connections… yet. Propose a connection.
News
solomonstarnews.com 08/05/2014
Villagers live in fear of submarin…
Recent Visitors
Reserved for members.

Community Reviews

Show full reviews
First published: 09/03/23.

Zoë Sheng

Marovo - Tetepare Complex

Marovo - Tetepare Complex (On tentative list)

Marovo - Tetepare Complex by Zoë Sheng

This one's not easy but not complicated either: get to the Solomon Islands, book a dive liveaboard that goes to the Marovo Lagoon and you are all set. In fact I find the SIs only have 3 things to really offer me anyway: west diving like the above, Munda (diving) or East Rennell which is a world heritage site but takes even more effort to reach.

So I booked a 10 day cruise and 4 are spent in the Lagoon with the rest around Florida Island etc. We visited one village but as it wasn't near the Lagoon and I figure it may not be what wants to be inscribed, not that I think the culture is that different from one neighboring village to the next these days. Cultural dancing and flower lei were a nice treat nonetheless.

I can thus only focus on the coral sea as the bird life was mainly parakeets or perhaps parrots and swallows. I wouldn't count thay special but who knows what is contained within the small islands and the larger mountains. Setting foot on a random island isn't done and there will always be some locsl suddenly appear from the bush to watch the boat or follow my kayak to barter.

The coral sea is unfortunately very poor these days. Rumor has it the Taiwanese fishing industry has already devastated the marine life for over a decade, now they are gone, replaced by a mainland China logging company...wow! Dead corals …

Keep reading 0 comments