Kokoda Trail Motel leads climate-smart tourism with vetiver grass project

Kokoda Trail Motel is now adopting a natural way to stop soil erosion in the Sogeri and Sirinumu Dam area of central province.

This is through the Vetiver System Technology, a bio-engineering practice used to stop soil degradation.

Motel Director Miku Agorobe says this promotes sustainable land rehabilitation in the area.

Kokoda Trail Motel is promoting a sustainable land rehabilitation through the Vetiver System Technology in the Sogeri and Sirinumu Dam area.

This by adopting the bio-engineering practice in its Sogeri Development Project, as the area is known for heavy rainfall and soil erosion.

Miku Agarobe says it is not just about addressing soil erosion but about being responsible custodians of the land to act sustainably and make a contribution to the local community and ecosystem.

Agorobe explains it's part of the motel’s outreach alongside Robinson Vanoh to trial the vetiver system in key environmental risk zones around Sogeri and Sirinumu Dam.

This with the goal to share knowledge with surrounding villages, schools, and farmers to adopt this cost-effective, low-maintenance method.

She says this collaboration also aligns with their broader vision to promote eco-tourism, restore degraded landscapes, and support climate resilience strategies in Central Province.

Environment advocate and regional leader in Vertiver Grass Technology, Robinson Vanoh, who is leading the planting project says it is a cheap solution instead of stopping soil erosion instead of a K40,000 to K50,000 gabion basket.

Vanoh says, " Imagine if the government can take this onto the roads. We can save millions of kinas for the country. Bio-engineering is the way to go for a cheap solution to soil erosion, said Vanoh.

Kokoda Trail Motel aims to transform high-risk zones around Sogeri and Sirinumu Dam into sustainable, restored landscapes.

The project also doubles as a community outreach effort: locals, schools, and farmers will receive hands-on training from Vanoh, to replicate the method and boost climate resilience across Central Province.