A Mangrove Retreat Shapes the Future of Sustainable Tourism in Milne Bay

Tucked within the rich mangrove ecosystems of Logeia Island, Milne Bay Province, Nuli Sapi Retreat offers more than just a place to stay, but a glimpse into how tourism, conservation, and community can thrive together.

May 21, 2026

Mr. Olian Jacob, a local tour guide at Nuli Sapi Retreat.

UNDP Papua New Guinea | Seru Kepa

Nuli Sapi is a locally owned, community-based eco tourism initiative that has been operating successfully for over ten years. Located on Logeia Island, it is one of the few community initiatives to have formally registered as an eco tourism site.

Surrounded by calm waters and vibrant marine life, the retreat has become a popular destination in the past years, attracting international tourists, researchers, and local organisations for holidays, conferencing, and field activities. Visitors can experience island hopping, snorkelling, and bird watching, all while immersing themselves in the natural beauty and cultural richness of the area.

Nuli Sapi beach front.

UNDP Papua New Guinea | Seru Kepa

But behind these experiences is a deeper story, one of hard work, community effort, and a vision for sustainable growth. At the heart of this work is Olian Jacob, a local tour guide and one of the key people driving the retreat’s development on the ground.

Olian is also deeply passionate about mangrove conservation. His commitment comes from witnessing firsthand the vital role mangroves play in protecting his community and supporting daily life.

“Mangroves are very important for our communities. They provide materials for building homes, help stop soil erosion, and protect our coastlines during strong winds and cyclones,” said Olian. “Today, many mangrove species are disappearing, so I want to encourage young people and nearby communities to plant more mangroves in vulnerable coastal areas to protect our environment and our future,” he said.

Nuli Sapi entrance and boardwalk.

UNDP Papua New Guinea | Seru Kepa

While he welcomes guests and shares the beauty of his island, much of his time is spent leading construction efforts to expand the retreat’s facilities.

“We do a lot of the work ourselves,” Olian explains. “From cutting timber in the bush to building the bungalows, it’s all manpower.”

Olian met with UNDP's ‘Goodpela Solwara, Goodpela Bisnis’ Programme team, to provide updates on grant implementation.

UNDP Papua New Guinea | Seru Kepa

Construction is no small task. Timber is sourced from surrounding forest areas, and Islands, often requiring teams of young men to travel for weeks at a time, cutting and carrying heavy loads back to the site. Using portable sawmills and chainsaws, materials are processed locally before being assembled into new structures.

Before, progress was slow and uncertain. “We would start work, then stop when we ran out of money,” Olian recalls. “Paying workers, buying fuel, fixing machines, it was always a struggle.”

In 2025, the retreat began receiving support from UNDP through its ‘Goodpela Solwara, Goodpela Bisnis’ Programme, which is generously funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and Joint SDG Fund. The project has provided the retreat both funding as well as capacity building trainings on financial management of the business.

The funding has enabled the team to purchase fuel for machinery, repair essential equipment, pay workers, and provide food rations for teams working in remote areas for extended periods. “After the funds came in, we moved faster. It really helped us progress,” Olian concludes.

Already, a new, larger self-contained bungalow is under construction, with plans underway to rebuild the kitchen and restaurant area. These upgrades are not just about increasing capacity, they are about improving the quality of services and creating new opportunities for training and skills development.

larger self-contained bungalow is under construction.

UNDP Papua New Guinea | Seru Kepa

The impact has extended far beyond infrastructure. By engaging local youth — many of whom struggle to find formal employment opportunities in the remote community — in meaningful work, the project has contributed to a noticeable reduction in social issues within the community. “Now the young people are working and earning something for themselves. That has helped reduce problems in the community,” Olian summarizes.

As the retreat continues to grow, so too does its impact. Increased accommodation will allow for more visitors, generating income and creating jobs, particularly for women and youth. At the same time, the integration of eco-friendly practices and local knowledge ensures that development remains sustainable.

The retreat operates within a locally recognised gwala—a no-take fishing zone that protects marine life and allows reef ecosystems to recover. This unique setting places the retreat at the intersection of conservation and livelihood, where protecting natural resources directly supporting the wellbeing of surrounding communities.

The retreat also operates through strong community collaboration. Land and resources are managed under customary ownership, requiring ongoing negotiation and cooperation with relatives and landowners. Whether through purchasing trees or exchanging labour, this system ensures that benefits are shared, and relationships are strengthened.

a Local collecting shells on the beach front at Nuli Sapi.

UNDP Papua New Guinea | Seru Kepa

“Our retreat is not only growing in size, it is creating opportunities for our people,” said Olian. “The new bungalow, kitchen and restaurant upgrades will help us welcome more visitors, but they also give our youth and women a chance to learn skills, earn income and support their families. Since many young people started working with us, we have seen fewer social problems in the community,” said Olian.

“We are also committed to protecting our environment while we develop,” he added. “The retreat is located within our gwala, where fishing is restricted so marine life can recover. We work closely with landowners and relatives under our customary system to make decisions together and ensure the benefits are shared across the community,” he added.

Looking ahead, Nuli Sapi is exploring the formal recognition of its surrounding gwala as a Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA), further reinforcing conservation efforts and community stewardship.

For Olian and the community behind Nuli Sapi, the journey is about more than tourism, it’s about building a future.

“We thank UNDP for the support,” he says. “It helped us move forward and achieve our goals. It has made a real difference here.”