Vanuatu

Asian Development Bank Country Environmental Analysis Reports
Vanuatu (2007; 443kb)

Community Vulnerability & Adaptation Assessment & Action Reports 
Vanuatu (1.18mb),

Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes [European Union - EDF10]
Vanuatu (2008-2013; 652kb)

Disasters and Climate Variability in the Pacific Islands: WORLD BANK regional stocktake- Country Assessment:
Vanuatu (2009; 376kb)

Disaster Risk Reduction: National Action Plans
Vanuatu (2007; 1.31mb) ,

Forestry Reports
Vanuatu (2000; 324kb), Vanuatu (2001; 1.3mb)

Legislative Reviews 
Vanuatu (1991; 5.6mb), Vanuatu (2004; 474kb)

Mauritius Strategy + 5 Review: National Assessment Reports [5-year Review of Progress Made in Addressing Vulnerabilities of Small Islands Developing States Through Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Further Implementation (MSI) of the
Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) ] 
Vanuatu (2010; 596kb)

Millenium Development Goals National Reports
Vanuatu (2005; 1.57mb)

Pacific Islands Regional MDG - Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability (2004; 324kb)
Pacific Islands Regional MDG Full Report

see also ADB Key Indicators 2006 for progress towards Millenium Development Goal 7: ensuring environmental sustainability (2006)

see also Millenium Ecosystem Assessment Website and Reports

Montreal Protocol: National Compliance Action Strategies to implement the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Vanuatu (2001; 194kb)

National Adaptation Plan of Action - NAPA - [Climate change]
Vanuatu (2009?; 7.26mb)

National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAP)
Vanuatu (Eng.) (1999; 5.13mb), Vanuatu (Fr.) (1999; 5.14mb)

see also National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans: Pacific Regional Review (2007; 269kb)

National Biosafety Frameworks
Vanuatu (2005; 313kb)

National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) 
Stocktake Reports: Vanuatu (2006; 5.66mb)

Thematic Assessment Reports:
Biodiversity: Vanuatu (2006; 5.66mb)

Action Plans:
Vanuatu (2007; 290kb)

NCSA Status (NCSA website)
Vanuatu

National Energy Policy Framework *endorsed
Vanuatu (2007; 75kb)

National Energy Policy Framework Workplan *endorsed
Vanuatu (2007; 114kb)

National Environment Management Strategy (NEMS) 
Vanuatu [Conservation Strategy] (1993; 25.68mb)

National Integrated Water Resource Management : Diagnostic Reports - drafts only [SOPAC]
Vanuatu - vol. 1 / vol. 2 (2007),

National Invasive Species Strategy

see Invasive alien species in the Austral-Pacific region: national reports and directory of resources [GISP] (2002; 3.75mb)

see also Invasives Species on Pacific Islands [reports] - HEAR / PIER project website

National [Sustainable] Development Plans / Strategies [ForumSec]
Vanuatu Priority Action Agenda 2006-2015 - draft (2006; 675kb)

Status Reports: Vanuatu (2004?: 9kb)

Indicators: Vanuatu (2004?: 19kb)

ADB Reports: Vanuatu (2004; 781kb)

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - reports, activities and PACC news updates
Vanuatu

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - report of in-country consultations 
Vanuatu (2009; 158kb)

Pacific Regional Energy Assessment: Country Reports (PIREP) 
Vanuatu (2004; 3.4mb)

Renewable Energy Country Profile [IRENA]
Vanuatu

Regional overview report (2004; 2.59mb)

Peristant Organic Pollutants (POPs): Country Plans
Vanuatu (2003; 496kb)

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention, 1989), the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (Rotterdam Convention, 1998) and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (Stockholm Convention, 2001) together provide an international framework for the environmentally sound management of hazardous chemicals throughout their life cycles.

Sea Level & Climate: their present state: Country reports
Vanuatu (2006; 2.51mb)

Ships' Waste Management in Pacific Islands Ports: Country reports
Vanuatu

Solid Waste Characterisation and Management Plans
Vanuatu (2000; 290kb)

State of the Environment Reports

Vanuatu environment Profile (2004 ; 360kb)

see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 2005 (2005; 382kb; see also ~http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/soe/2005/mainpub/ ~)

see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 1983 (UNEP: 1983; 1.66mb)
see also State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)

see also Regional perspectives: Asia and the Pacific (UNEP, GEO-4. 2007; 382 kb)

see also the archive of SPREP Country Reports between 1980-1983 as follows:
Vanuatu (1980; 163kb)

United Nations. Common Country Assessments
Vanuatu (2002; 605kb)

see also United Nations. Development Assistance Frameworks 2003-2007:
Vanuatu (2002; 429kb)

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED: Brazil, 1992)
Country Reports : Vanuatu (3.11mb)

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992) and the Rio Declaration highlighted the need for sustainable development-socially responsible economic development that protects the resource base and the environment for the benefit of future generations. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, also highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
National Reports: Vanuatu 1 (1998 ; 372kb), Vanuatu 2 (2000 ; 316kb), Vanuatu 3 (2006 ; 5.74mb)

see also Country profiles compiled by the Secretariat for the UNCBD.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Land Degradation) (UNCCD)
Second National Reports: Vanuatu (2002; 468kb).

Third National Reports: Third National Reports: Vanuatu (2007; 702kb)

see also UNCCD Country Profiles:
Vanuatu

see also UNCCD Reports clearinghouse mechanism

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is an agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
(i) National Communications and In-depth Reviews
Vanuatu (1999; 583kb)

(iii) National Action Plans on Adaptation (NAPA) 
Vanuatu (2007; 7.2mb)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC,1992) is concerned with global warming and the consequent rise in sea levels that may result in the flooding of coastal areas, and submerging islands, which could adversely affect coastal communities. The treaty aims at reducing emissions of greenhouse gas in order to combat global warming. Although the treaty as originally framed set no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual nations and contained no enforcement provisions; it did include provisions for updates (called "protocols") that would set mandatory emission limits. The principal update is the Kyoto Protocol.

World Summit on Sustainable Development [Rio+10 - Johannesburg 2002]

National Assessment Reports: 
Vanuatu (2002; 171kb)

Pacific WSSD Regional Assessment (2002; 91kb) and Pacific Position Paper (2004; 91kb)
see also: Synthesis Report for Asia and the Pacific (2001; 1.22mb)

The WSSD Plan of Implementation calls for the management of the natural resources base in a sustainable and integrated manner. In this regard, to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation as soon as possible, it is necessary to implement strategies which should include targets adopted at the national and, where appropriate, regional levels to protect ecosystems and to achieve integrated management of land, water and living resources, while strengthening regional, national and local capacities.

The Johannesburg Declaration and the Plan of Implementation arising from the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002) reconfirmed the commitment of States to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development-economic development, social development and environmental protection-at the local, national, regional and global levels.

Reports available online from the SPREP Library and IRC database
Reports available online from SOPAC [Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission] 
Reports available online from ReefBase Pacific

search also SPC Coastal and Oceanic Fisheries Digital Library
search also Reefbase Pacific online documents

Vital Roads - Epi Island, Vanuatu. Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project
 

Dugong in Vanuatu
- This sea creature is a dugong, which we filmed underwater while it fed on sea grass in a remote bay in Vanuatu. Images of dugong set to music.

Overview of the Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area [Vanuatu]
- This video describes the local creation of a novel marine governance institution in Vanuatu which strengthens local initiatives, but has the ability to deal with larger-scale threats and marine resource challenges.

Saving Nemo - Vanuatu
- Since the success of the film 'Finding Nemo', demand for tropical fish has soared. But the seas of the Pacific are literally being emptied to feed this frenzy. Tropical fish are now virtually worth their weight in gold. "Everybody wants one because of this Nemo film," explains SRS Manager Larry Dacles. His company has a monopoly on tropical fishing in Vanuato, home to some of most popular tropical fish in the world. Former workers claim it got this monopoly by bribing government officials. In just three years, SRS has alienated local tourism operators, who depend on the tropical fish as an attraction, scientists, fear an ecological disaster in the making, and the traditional owners of the reefs. "They take anything and everything," complains one local. "It's out of control." Already there has been a 50% fall in tropical fish from the reefs. Now, it's not so much a case of finding Nemo as saving him.

Sea Turtle Tagging on Nguna and PeleVanuatu
- Describes how sea turtles are caught, tagged and released by the Vanua'Tai monitors on Nguna and Pele islands in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu - Tropical Aquarium Fish Harvest Pt 1 , Pt 2, Pt 3
- Vanuatu is a haven for snorkelling, reef and wreck diving, and sport fishing. Since the success of the film 'Finding Nemo', demand for tropical fish has soared. But the seas of the Pacific are literally being emptied to feed this frenzy. Tropical fish are now virtually worth their weight in gold. "Everybody wants one because of this Nemo film," explains SRS Manager Larry Dacles. His company has a monopoly on tropical fishing in Vanuatu, home to some of most popular tropical fish in the world. SRS has alienated local tourism operators, who depend on the tropical fish as an attraction, and the traditional owners of the reefs, and scientists who are fearing an ecological disaster in the making. "They take anything and everything," complains one local. "It's out of control." Already there has been a 50% fall in tropical fish from the reefs. Now, it's not so much a case of finding Nemo as saving him.

Live and Learn - Vanuatu

Nguna-Pele marine protected area
The Nguna-Pele MPA , winner of the 2008 UNDP Equator Prize, is a local, indigenous, non-governmental organization made up of sixteen communities on two islands dedicated to the sustainable use and long-term existence of marine and terrestrial resources. It is the very first of its kind in Vanuatu and currently serves as a model for other island-initiated conservation efforts nationally and throughout the South Pacific. We strive to ensure that our people retain access and use of the diversity of marine species of Vanuatu through proactive conservation, resilient management, and locally-appropriate awareness.

Vanbirds
Webpage includes access to databases , images, sound recordings and species accounts.

Vanuatu Govt - Ministry of Lands and Resources - Department of Environment and Conservation-

Vanuatu Meteorological Office

Wantok Environment Centre - Vanuatu
The Wantok Environment Centre (WTEC) is a national environmental non-government organisation incorporated in Vanuatu as a charitable association. Its mission is the care and protection of Vanuatu's natural environment, recognising its importance for all forms of life, for present and future generations and in the sustainable development of the country.

WTEC's primary concern is representing the interests of rural communities and families directly involved in the conservation and/or sustainable management of Vanuatu's natural environment and resource. The organisation also has an education programme in schools, is engaged in promoting sustainable income generation (particularly low-impact tourism) and is involved in species specific conservation and research in-line with national and provincial priorities.

see also:

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Regional Frameworks and Strategies Directory [SPREP]

SPREP Library and IRC collection [SLIC] - includes online full text access to a wide range of Pacific environment materials.

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Virtual Library - full text publications from SPREP, SOPAC, SPC and other CROP agencies, Pacific govt. environment depts. , regional institutions, and NGOs active in the area of environment conservation.

Pacific Environment Databases and Recommended Internet Resources

see also:

SPREP's International Instruments' webpage
"International instruments relevant to SPREP's work in the areas of Sustainable Economic Development, Ecosystems Management, Climate Change, and Waste Management."

Academic literature and research

via Google Scholar