Mosquito-free Coast at Banwa Private Island

Banwa Private Island is on track to become the first mosquito-free island in the Philippines. To protect the island's 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 the beautiful ecosystem and thriving insect biodiversity in balance," said Peter Nilsson of Banwa Private Island. 

Banwa Private Island's Zero Mosquito project started in July 2022 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 a German company, Biogents. Relatively simple, yet clever solutions of environmental ingenuity that work without pesticides. There are various trap types, depending on the habits and life cycles of the mosquitos. The 'BG-MosquitaireCO2' trap works by luring the mosquitos with smells irresistible to biting insects; the odour of human skin, breath and sweat. A single fan then sucks, even more wary creatures, into the trap, there is then no escape. 

Until now, the most common method of mosquito control used in the tropics has been frequent 'fogging' with insecticides. This kills' mosquitos, but the unfortunate side effect is that the chemicals are unavoidably inhaled by the island's human residents, and non-targeted insects and even fishes are negatively impacted. 

Medical Entomologist Bart Knols of Culex Maldives said, "We were delighted when Banwa Private Island contacted us. On two of the six islands in the Maldives were the traps currently being used, we have eliminated the dangerous Asian Tiger Mosquito. We are passionate about moving away from pesticides and offering green sustainable alternatives of benefit to both resorts and islands with local communities. This is a great opportunity. It is great to see Banwa Private Island spearheading non-toxic mosquito eradication in the Philippines."