VANUATU is ramping up efforts under a new biodiversity strategy that prioritizes the control of invasive species and the reinforcement of community-led resource management.
The strategy, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), was spotlighted this week at the Pacific Innovation on Climate and Environment Forum. The Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation outlined the nation’s framework for protecting its unique ecosystems for future generations.
Principal Biodiversity and Conservation Officer Rolenas Tavue Baeleo identified invasive species as one of the country’s most significant environmental threats and emphasized that the plan provides a coordinated approach for all levels of government. Conservation is vital for Vanuatu’s long-term development, as its people heavily depend on healthy ecosystems for their livelihoods, she said.
Officially, 22 conservation areas are registered with the government. However, according to Baeleo, many more areas are managed effectively by local chiefs through customary systems, a practice linked to ancestral traditions.. As natural resources decline, communities are increasingly reviving these traditional methods to bolster protected areas.
The NBSAP serves as Vanuatu’s roadmap for fulfilling its commitments under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Its core objectives include conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable resource use, and ensuring the nation’s ecosystems continue to support both current and future generations.
SOURCE: VBTC NEWS
