Turtle Island is a remote destination in the South Pacific, part of the Yasawa Group of volcanic islands in the Republic of Fiji. The Resort, situated in the warm clear waters of Fiji, is host to only 14 couples at a time. It provides an individual thatched, hand-built, bure (accommodation) for every couple - cool and quiet cottages with windows opening onto the Blue Lagoon.

In order to preserve the environment of the Island, the owner, Richard Evanson, strove to become self-sufficient - including setting up a full workshop and a busy furniture factory turning out handmade pieces from local timber. There has also been a vigorous tree-planting scheme which has added more than 300,000 trees to the island during the past decade. The island has been placed under the control of a irrevocable trust which prohibits the sale of the island, limits the number of guests to 14 couples, and protects wildlife. In recent years Evanson has funded twice-yearly eye clinics providing free services and surgeries for neighbouring island villagers.

Turtle Island commissioned a 'cultural audit' in 1998, which aimed to examine the organisation within the context of its vision statement, and the economic, social and cultural impact of Turtle Island on the groups and individuals who make up the social fabric of the tikina and its surrounding areas. The audit is the first of its kind in the world, and has established new paradigms for operators with concerns about their social impacts.

• Wastes are segregated into type: petroleum based wastes, metals, glass, plastics, organic kitchen waste
• All metals, glass and plastic are broken down as much as possible before being buried in separate trenches in a special land fill area away from the main resort
• All food garden waste and other plant cuttings are composted in a soil embankment away from the main resort
• Digested compost is used as a soil enhancement in tree planting around the island and in the vegetable garden
• All staff members in relevant departments are required to report to a disposal station twice a day with all their waste materials

• Policy to limit the number of bures which thus leads to a limited human capacity year round, and therefore minimal electrical power usage
• All bures are fitted with low voltage lights and light fittings
• The generators used to produce electrical energy produce hot air which is harnessed in a warehouse for the dying of laundry, therefore eliminating the need for clothes dryers
• All hot water heating for the island is generated through solar hot water heaters on the roof of each bure and in the laundry, kitchen and administrative areas
• Project to install a computer based electricity monitoring system has started, which includes work on a site electrical schematic and layout for a wind generator (to provide 15% of the islands energy)

• Two reservoirs have been built which cumulatively hold 20 million litres of water
• Island drinking water is sourced from a natural spring and bottled for each guest
• During 1999, pipe-works were installed for the purpose of supplying freshwater to the local villages

• Septic tanks and leach fields are used for the disposal of wastewater
• Once the septic tanks are full the waste is spread on various parts of the forest away from the food growing areas

• Toxic materials, such as lead acid batteries, are shipped to the mainland where they are recycled by special purpose recyclers

• Guests are requested to stay on the roads, rather than walking through the forests
• Access around the island has been minimised and therefore the impact of vehicles, horses and people is limited
• Only mode of transport around the island is by bicycle or electric powered carts

• Three acre organic vegetable and herb garden (over 300 specially raised bordered garden beds, all of which are drip irrigated)
• Pesticides are not used in the vegetable garden, and pest management is natural with pyrethrum based products and companion planting
• Over 90% of the fresh vegetables and herbs required for cooking are grown on the island
• Beehives produce fresh island honey and the bees help pollinate the surrounding citrus trees
• As a result of prolific tree planting over the past 25 years, the island is largely self sufficient in producing building materials
• Trees from neighbouring islands which have been damaged in hurricanes are purchased by Turtle Island and used as raw materials
• Grassland is common in upland locations and source the bure thatching, as well as grazing land for the island's seven horses

• Environmental awareness programmes and training for the community, staff and guests are continually being developed
• All staff who are involved with caring for the grounds, gardens or other ecological zones on the island are educated in-depth about their area of responsibility
• Project has been commissioned to comprehensively survey and list the most prolific species of trees and historical sites in existence on the island. On completion this will be used as an additional educational tool for those who visit Turtle Island
• Staff have an opportunity to participate in decisions and to offer suggestions regarding any aspect of the Resort's operation, including environmental practices

• Guests are exposed to traditional Fijian-made artefacts, furniture, goods and crafts, and therefore come to understand the importance of both utilising the resources available on the island as well as working with nature to minimise harm to the local environment

• Many community based conservation programmes are run on Turtle Island including medical clinics and a Mission School Fund

• Through the use of electric cars, attention to the proliferation of natural flora and fauna, the limit put on capacity and the minimisation of harmful emissions, the air quality is of an extremely high standard
• Care is taken to avoid activities or processes which may create unnecessary pollution into the atmosphere

• Guests travel to and from the Island via seaplane, and therefore noise has been kept to a minimum
• The minimal number of people on the Island and the spacing apart of the 14 bures is also conducive to a quiet lifestyle

• Use of natural products including biodegradable soap - the ends of which are used in the laundry
• Minimal use of plastic bottles or containers on the Island
• Use of organic fertilisers
• Items stocked in gift shop are typically hand crafted on a small scale, either locally or within Australia

Lisa Croucher

Operations Manager

Turtle Island