INDONESIA, Kofiau, Raja Ampat, Papua – June 2007
Medical equipment, school books and equipment for three villages in exchange for the creation of a 41,360-acre no-take marine reserve: Deer Village, Deer Island; Dibalal Village, Dibalal Island; and Tolobi Village, Tolobi Island
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Kofiau is located in the geographic center of the Raja Ampat Archipelago in Papua. There are 43 islands in Kofiau with a total land area of 55,735 acres and 206,802 acres of marine area. The land area includes a tropical rainforest with an endemic species of butterfly, the Kofiau Black-backed Monarch, the rare Kofiau Paradise-Kingfisher and the endemic Kofiau Green-Tree Python. The marine area encompasses fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls, and mangroves, and some of the highest marine diversity recorded anywhere on the planet. There are only three small villages in Kofiau, with each village located on its own island. With the assistance of the Nature Conservancy Coral Triangle Center - Raja Ampat Program, Seacology will provide to the people of Deer, Dibalal and Tolobi text books, sports equipment and teaching materials for their elementary school as well as a solar-powered refrigerator for their healthcare centers along with some basic medical equipment. In exchange, they will set aside 41,360 acres of their existing marine protected area as no-take for a minimum duration of 10 years. *
UPDATE October 2007 - As of August 2007 the village was ready to purchase the solar power refrigerators to prepare for a long transportation time. They expect one refrigerator of the three to be installed by October 2007. The remaining equipment is scheduled to be purchased and installed in the later part of 2007 and early 2008. A site visit to participate in launching ceremonies is scheduled for the Seacology expedition group to Raja Ampat.
UPDATE May 2008 - As of March 2008, one refrigerator had been delivered, but the other two orders were delayed in lieu of purchasing school books first. The books were delivered in March 2008. The final stage of the project includes purchase and installation of the last two solar chills and medical supplies.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by the
Nu
Skin Enterprises Force for Good Foundation
