With some 80,000 hectares of rainforest, Mt Bosavi region is setting out to become the next major carbon credit project in the Country and the Pacific.
Mt Bosavi Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative Inc (SADI) has gone into partnership with WE-ACT, a leading Carbon Project Developer in Australia who takes lead in International Trade Consultancy to make Mt Bosavi forest a Carbon Credit Project area.
Mt Bosavi (SADI) Chairman Mr. Andrew Awabi said with the MOA signed recently in partnership with WE- ACT, Mt Bosavi Sustainable Agriculture Development Initiative Inc. is now working on to get all its ILG certificates so to mark proper land boundaries to make it easier for royalty payments.
Right now there are five (5) proposed regions in Mt Bosavi for the Carbon Credit Projects to take place, Kaluli, Walulu, Wisesi, Sunia and Eibala, and all these are part of the Mt Bosavi SADI Forest Management area.
“We are currently carrying out trainings and running awareness programs on the ground to educate the people of Mt Bosavi region the importance of the carbon credit project and the benefits they will acquire from it once it rolls out,” says Mr Awabi.
“Educating them on the carbon credit project is important because they need to understand the so-called “cap-and-trade” program so they can really understand what Carbon credit is.”
Mr Awabi also highlighted that the carbon credit project will bring in more benefits, and it terms of percentage the people of Mt Bosavi will be getting a big share from it.
“We will be getting 52% royalty while WE- ACT Australia who will be playing the middle man role to link us with Viva Carbon Market USA will be getting 48% from the carbon credit project.”
Mt Bosavi region is so isolated that there is no road link into the nearby 4 provinces, Western Province, Gulf, Southern Highlands and Hela. It is only accessible by MAF and chopper, and government services are mostly out and many are still living a more traditional kind of lifestyle.
Mr Awabi says anything to bring services and change the lifestyle of the people of Mt Bosavi region is welcomed, and Carbon Credit Project is one big project that Mt Bosavi is hoping it will change and improve their lives.
“We are cut off from the entire country but we are hoping this carbon credit project can connect us not only with the country but the outside world too,” said Mr Awabi.