LocationsBy Lorraine Bambu, Small Grants Programme Officer, UNDP Pacific Office
Homegrown Hope: Bita’ama and Ofu Communities to Biodiversity Conservation
June 4, 2025
Small Grants Programme Officer, Lorraine Bambu with her colleagues at Osi Lake.
UNDP
Today it’s World Oceans Day and I have been reflecting on how there are moments in our transcend reports and data – moments that connect us deeply to the people and places we serve. My recent monitoring visit to the Ofu Community in the Bita’ama region in North Malaita was one of those moments. As a Small Grants Programme (SGP) officer—and as someone who is proudly half-Malaitan—this journey felt like coming home.
To reach Ofu, we passed through the stunning Osi Lake, where water lilies bloom gracefully over still, mirrored waters. It was a sunny, beautiful day – the kind that makes you pause mid-sentence just to take in the view. From Auki, it’s a two-hour drive along a rough road currently under rehabilitation, winding through quiet villages and dense forests on one side, and the ocean on the other. It’s a long ride, but one filled with beauty and anticipation.
We spent part of the day helping to collect and break ngali nuts, and I must say – it felt good to get my hands dirty. Our communications colleague from Spain was absolutely fascinated, especially when we showed him how we climb the tall trees to harvest the nuts. At the newly built ngali-nut processing and preservation house, the community proudly demonstrated how they now preparing and store the nuts in a more hygienic and sustainable way. This facility has already become both an economic asset and a local attraction.
Preparing swamp taro pudding mixed with ngali-nuts.
UNDP
One of the most moving parts of the visit was walking along the rehabilitated bay. This is an inspiring way to celebrate the ocean, especially today, 8 June, when the world turns special attention to this overexploited resource. The community at Ofu has taken real ownership of marine conservation, particularly around parrotfish protection and reef preservation. Coincidentally this year´s theme for World Ocean Day is “Sustainable Fishing”. Standing there, looking out over those clear waters, I could see the difference – not just in the environment, but in the pride shining through the eyes of those who have worked so hard to make it happen. They have stopped fishing in key areas and proudly share that the rift is regenerating, and parrotfish are once again thriving.
The best part of the day after the project visit – the community hosted a traditional feast with swamp taro pudding mixed with ngali nuts, prepared in the age-old way using a motu– an earth oven that slowly roasts the food underground. What made this even more special was knowing the nuts were harvested from plantations restored through the project. That meal wasn’t just a gesture of hospitality – it was a celebration of community leadership, resilience, and renewal, made possible with just a little support.
Ngali-nuts processing at the Processing and Preservation house.
UNDP
Of course, like in many communities, there’s still a lot to do. Infrastructure challenges remain, and sustainable livelihoods must continue to be strengthened. But there is something deeply reassuring about the way this community is organised and managing the project – with honesty, clarity, and purpose.
I left Ofu Community feeling hopeful. These are not just project sites on a map – they are living stories of what’s possible when local knowledge meets opportunity. And as a Malaitan, it gives me extra pride to witness this transformation firsthand.
This visit reminded me why I do this work. It reminded me that conservation isn’t just about protecting nature – it’s about restoring dignity, culture, and hope to communities that have always been its best stewards.
Until next time, Ofu.
The Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a corporate programme of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1992.
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