Empowering community resilience through reforestation and coral reef restoration in Vanuatu

The purpose of this project is to address some of the environmental issues and threats caused by the impact of the climate change, deforestation, development and over-harvesting activities by growing population. It aims to restore, protect and preserve the ecosystem services including natural and marine resources and manage sustainable use of the resources, while conserve vulnerable endanger species.

In Vanuatu, biodiversity is categorized as food, culture, tradition, money, medicine, shelter, fresh air (oxygen), firewood, coastline stabiliser, protector against storm surge, protector of fresh water systems, carbon sequester, ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, ecosystem-based approaches to disaster risk reduction, and beautiful sceneries for enjoyment through camping, picnicking, swimming and snorkelling. Biodiversity is vital for all Ni-Vans’ survival. Vanuatu is within the East Melanesian Islands Biodiversity Hot Spot region that needs attention for the protection of its unique flora and fauna. It has a number of endemic plant and animal species that are not found elsewhere and some are at risk of becoming extinct if measures are not continuously taken to protect them.

Vanuatu also show its commitment to protect and conserve our biodiversity through the inclusion of environment as one of the three main pillars of the National Sustainable Development Plan(NSDP) that is directly linked to policy objectives of the National Environment Policy and Implementation Plan (NEPIP). Other relevant policies ranging from climate change and overarching productive sectors’ policy and other respective natural resource management sector policies also include measures towards protection, conservation andsustainable use of biodiversity.

Biological diversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services essential for human well-being. As mentioned above, it provides for food security, human health, and clean air and water; contributes to local livelihoods, and economic development; and isessential for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including poverty reduction. In addition, it is a central component of many belief systems, worldviews and identities. Yet despite its fundamental importance, biodiversity continues to be lost.

The greatest threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services are result from human activities. Human settlements are generally found concentrated in the coastal lowlands. Consequently, biodiversity is most at risk in lowland and coastal areas and small islands, yet remains relatively intact in the high altitude forests of larger islands. The forests of Vanuatu have been also impacted by human activities, which have diminished and altered forest cover and biodiversity. Poor agricultural practices often result in loss of riparian habitat, erosion of soil and increased turbidity which may disrupt feeding success of fishes. Forest clearance and land reclamation affect river flows and water temperature in some catchments. Also, changes in the marine environment resulting from human activities are occurring faster than previously anticipated, affecting, especially, vulnerable marine ecosystems such as coral reefs. Of the above mentioned threats and challenges, the local communities of South Malekula are vulnerable to these threats and needed actions for biodiversity and ecosystem services restorations, protections and better management.

Thus, the purpose of this project is to address some of the environmental issues and threats caused by the impact of the climate change, deforestation, development and over-harvesting activities by growing population. It aims to restore, protect and preserve the ecosystem services including natural and marine resources and manage sustainable use of the resources, while conserve vulnerable endanger species. It will involve zoning, territorial mapping and demarcation for self-isolation and conservation, re-planting of trees and coral reefs restoration activities. It will also empower the local authorities to develop and set up a community environmental policy(CEP) and an Environment Management System (EMS) aligning with the National Environment Policies to restore and protect the biodiversity and ecosystem services in the project targeted areas. The project merit is a nature-based approach to climate change adaptation that will harnesses the capacity of nature to buffer communities against the adverse impacts of climate change through sustainable delivery of ecosystems services. The project will promote a culture of unity and enhance local governance by working with traditional chiefs, women & youth groups, and people with special needs to understand the importance of preserving biodiversity system, cultural sites, heritages, boundaries, etc. through the traditional knowledge and practices that are bound to bevanishing.

Project objectives

«By 2030, 80% of South Malekula biodiversity ecosystem services are restored, protected, conserved and the sustainable use of natural & marine resources are well managed for future generations, and thus become a successful eco-tourism attraction.»

1. To contribute to the fulfilment of the Environment Pillar for the National Sustainable Development Goals and Policies 2016-2030 environment goals and policies.
2. To improve knowledge on good agricultural, forestry and fisheries practices, and the sustainable use of biodiversity resources and ecosystem services of the vulnerable citizens of South Malekula, Vanuatu.
3. To strengthen rural communities in South Malekula for Sustainable-use of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 20% in 2025, and strengthen all community conservation committees to manage & monitor biodiversity resources and conserve vulnerable species.
4. Empowering rural communities to employ cost-efficient nature-based solutions to achieve rights-based, gender-sensitive and socially inclusive with measurable benefits for climate change adaptation by 15% in 2030.