The neatly kept cocoa farming community of Ainbul, a FORCERT partner community since 2008, is located in the very middle of New Britain Island. The community is made up of newly settled farmers who in 1990 moved from their ancestral grounds up to the current location in search of road access and markets for cash and food crops.
The community is divided into five hamlets with an estimated population of 225 people divided into 40 households, making up 9 clans, belonging to the Manseng tribe. There is an abundance of natural food sources, ranging from indigenous greens, starchy root crops, peanuts, fruits, freshwater fish, prawns and wild pigs.
The tropical lowland forest that forms part of their customary land is a natural sanctuary to the endangered cuscus Phalanger orientalis and near threatened dwarf cassowary Casuarius bennetti. These were some of the animal species the community identified as part of their high conservation value assessment of their forests. Working with FORCERT on this, Ainbul then developed its own sustainable land use plan, which is covered by strict community conservation laws, set in place and enforced by the community themselves.
The community is improving management and monitoring of their cocoa farms, working with the Social Enterprise Arm of FORCERT. The community has been growing their own new cacao seedlings and now also grows and sells vegetable seedlings to neighbouring communities. Other economic activities in the community includes the operation of two trade stores and a fish pond.
Since FORCERT started working with them, Ainbul has grown into a well organised community with increased participation and input from women and youth. The community’s cooperation and commitment is exemplary and over the years through their hard work has led to important results like the establishment of the Ainbul Sawmill Business Group, Ainbul Elementary and Primary Schools and 3 cocoa fermentries.
