Sea salt is an important item for barter in Lamalera village. However a decline in the amount of wood available for burning during the salt distilling process has greatly reduced the amount of salt the villagers have been able to produce. At the close of the Lamalera Bali Meeting, the nine representatives from Lamalera were able to visit a sea salt operation based in Bali that uses a method requiring far less wood to produce the salt. The villagers from Lamalera expect to use this knowledge when they return to reduce their use of firewood and increase the amount of salt they can use for barter. "Alternative livelihoods are the key to the future of Lamalera because whaling is uncertain in the future." ~Hendrikus Kia Keraf

For more information about the Lamalera Bali Meeting, please click here to read the meeting minutes.