Rain Forest Canopy Walkway Progressing
The aerial canopy walkway in the Falealupo Rain Forest Preserve in Western Samoa is rapidly nearing completion. Canadian Stephanie Hughes and Australian Kevin Jordan of Arbornaut Access, Inc., Victoria, British Columbia, were contracted by Seacology to build the state of the art facility in Falealupo. One of only nine aerial rain forest canopy walkways in the entire world, and the only aerial walkway in the South Pacific islands, the Falealupo walkway is expected to provide a small, but dependable source of ecotourism revenue to the village after Seacology gives the walkway to Falealupo in early May. "At Seacology we are exploring how villages can derive revenues by keeping rain forests standing instead of cutting them down," explains Seacology Chairman Paul Cox. "It is our hope that the aerial walkway will provide Falealupo village sufficient income and incentive to protect their rain forest preserve for the long-term," he added.
Cox and BYU photographer Mark Philbrick were coached by engineer Stephanie Hughes as they ascended fixed ropes to a height of over 85 feet in a large banyan tree. Access to the three levels of platforms in the tree will be provided by a suspension bridge spanning the rain forest from a distant Garuga tree. The bridge is reached by climbing up enclosed staircases from the ground up to the top of the Garuga tree. "The entire project is very reminiscent of the tree house in Swiss Family Robinson," Cox explained. "In fact, the village is planning to allow tourists to spend the night high in the banyan tree, even raising their meals up to them by ropes."
The walkway and platforms have been built without using any rain forest timbers or without even damaging a single rain forest tree. Strong nylon straps with tensile strength in the thousands of pounds and stainless steel aircraft cable are attached to the trees with no nails or spikes penetrating the trees. All of the platforms and walkway are suspended from these cables and straps. This prevents disease from entering the trees, and ensures a rain forest-friendly project. "We are deeply grateful to Nu Skin International for the initial funding for the project," Cox said, "to our group of Seacology donors for additional funding to complete the project, and to Arbornaut Access for superb construction and engineering expertise. When finished, the walkway will truly become one of the wonders of the South Pacific."
