Banwa Private Island in north-eastern Palawan is on track to become the first mosquito-free island in the Philippines.
To protect the island’s fragile biodiversity, the all luxury-villa holiday destination aims to eradicate mosquitoes without the use of harmful pesticides.
“Banwa Private Island is deeply committed to providing our guests with worry-free, luxurious holidays that are founded upon environmentally conscious and sustainable practices. The Zero Mosquito Project endeavors to achieve a mosquito-free island while keeping the beautiful ecosystem and thriving insect biodiversity in balance,” said Banwa Private Island’s Peter Nilsson.
The Zero Mosquito Project started in July in collaboration with Culex Maldives, a company at the forefront of successful, sustainable insecticide-free mosquito management in the Maldives since 2019.
The method employs mosquito traps designed and developed by German company Biogents. The trap works by luring the mosquitos with smells irresistible to biting insects: the odor of human skin, breath, and sweat. A single fan then sucks insects into a trap.
Fogging, a common method of mosquito control, kills insects, but the unfortunate side effect is that the chemicals are unavoidably inhaled by humans and non-targeted insects.
“We were delighted when Banwa Private Island contacted us. On two of the six islands in the Maldives where the traps are currently being used, we have eliminated the dangerous Asian Tiger Mosquito. We are passionate about moving away from pesticides and offering green and sustainable alternatives of benefit to both resorts and islands with local communities,” said Medical Entomologist Bart Knols of Culex Maldives.
For more information and enquiries on Banwa Private Island, please contact the Reservations team through mobile/WhatsApp: +639178882864, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.banwaprivateisland.com.
For more information and enquiries regarding mosquito traps and mosquitos in island elimination programs, send an email to [email protected]