Tetepare's rainforest has been growing undisturbed for centuries. Giant trees stretch 40 metres into the sky, their roots tangled around ancient coral rock. Rare birds nest in the canopy, including the Solomons sea-eagle, which glides on wide wings over the treetops hunting for fish in the channels below.
Every year, leatherback turtles crawl up Tetepare's dark beaches at night to lay their eggs. Leatherbacks are the biggest turtles in the world — some are as long as a tall adult human lying down. Rangers from the Tetepare Descendants' Association count every nest and protect the eggs from predators.
The Tetepare Descendants' Association is made up of the families whose ancestors originally lived on the island. Even though their great-grandparents moved away long ago, these families feel a strong responsibility to look after the land. They invite scientists and visitors to help with conservation, but the decisions about what happens on the island always belong to the descendants.