Andrea Dekrout (past volunteer) – Research and Training Adviser in Bougainville

Before leaving New Zealand, Andrea and her husband, fellow VSA volunteer Gavin Reynolds, worked as independent environmental consultants for various government agencies and companies in Raglan.

What Andrea did in Bougainville

Andrea advised the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) on managing Bougainville’s natural environment for development, particularly in relation to land use, biodiversity and climate threats.

She worked with officers across government divisions and with different community groups to help support local projects on environmental management and climate change adaptation.

Making a positive impact

Andrea rated working with communities groups as the most enjoyable part of her assignment with the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Her role there was to advise on how to manage Bougainville’s natural environment for development, particularly in relation to land use, biodiversity and climate threats. As Andrea points out: “people in the local communities often had such great ideas but found it hard to articulate them well. They would have an idea of a conservation project but needed help to develop it or where to go to get the funding they needed.”

One example was at the Paru Paru community centre where Charles Mikua wanted to run environmental education classes for school leavers. He already had the beginnings of a programme but Andrea helped to focus those ideas, extend the classroom and provide teaching resources. Crucially, she was also able link him up with UNDP that is now providing in-kind support and AusAid is enthusiastic about possible funding. The lessons were primarily focused on improving current farming systems and making them sustainable.

Andrea’s highlights

“Working with community groups has been really rewarding, especially working with a community reforestation project (the  Bougainville Forests for Children Programme). They supply native seedlings to primary schools and educate children on tree planting and forest management. We have registered the project with UNEP’s One-billion Trees programme and I hope to help them find funding to support their work in the long term.”

“Bougainville is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches, excellent coral reefs and warm and friendly people. It is impossible to pick a most enjoyable aspect because 90 per cent of living and working here is great.”

What Bougainville taught Andrea

“It is harder to offend people than you may at first fear – treat everyone as you would like to be treated and don’t sweat the small stuff.”

“Time really is relative.”

Moving on

Andrea and her partner Gavin landed their dream jobs working for the Cheetah Conservation of Botswana. They will be running the fieldstation in Ghanzi which is very remote, situated as it is in the middle of the Kalahari Desert.

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