An Island Saved, At Least for Some Time? The Advent of Tourism to Rennell, Solomon Islands - Island Futures: Conservation and Development Across the Asia-Pacific Region - page 174

Conclusion
With the exception of Papua New Guinea, the Solomons have a greater diversity of
animal species and higher level of endemism than any other Pacific island nation
(e.g. Munch-Petersen 1988 ). Within the Solomon Islands, Rennell has the highest
occurrence of endemism for an island of its size. Rennell is famous for having
developed many unique species because of its isolation. East Rennell is important
because it includes all the habitats found on Rennell, and contains a viable repre-
sentation in natural conditions of most endemic bird species. Moreover, Lake Te
Nggano occupies 17.6% of the total area of Rennell Island and is also the largest
body of enclosed water in the insular Pacific (UNEP-WCMC 2008 ). 2
And yet, as this brief chapter demonstrates, for all its wonderful attributes, the
survival of the East Rennell Island ecosystem into the twenty-first century has been
quite accidental. A low-key tourism operation now drives part of the Rennell island
economy, managing to provide some sustainable living to a number of islanders,
while a rudimentary (air and road) transportation network ensures that the island,
for all its enticing natural beauty, is not - or, perhaps better, has not yet been -
invaded by hordes of rampaging tourists. As one of just five inscribed UNESCO
World Heritage Sites in the insular Pacific, remote East Rennell is, for the moment,
spared from both dramatic 'development' projects, as well as from an equally
devastating tourism footprint.
References
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2 For an extensive bibliography of Rennell and Bellona Islands, consult Kuschel et al. ( 2001 ).