Sustainability in the context of coastal and marine tourism: marine protected areas in Vanuatu

Nguna Pele Marine and Land Protected Area Network

Building resilience to climate change in the Pacific islands31st October-2nd November 2012, Le Lagon Resort, Vanuatu

1. Nguna Pele Marine and Land Protected Area network

“By the communities, for the communities”• 2002: Community based organization with 4 villages• 2005 - 2006: NOAA• 2005: Finalist world challenge competition• 2007 – 2009: National fish & wild life• 2008 - Seaecology• 2008: UN Equator Prize• 2012: EU and UN Grant

-> Today : 15 communities and more than 3 000 hectares of marine and land areas

2. Sustainability: a local need Demand for natural resources has increased

Number of people has increased

Effects of human impacts and climate change• Number of resources have decreased

Need to adapt

3. How do we adapt? Marine Protected Areas

• Preservation in marine and land areas

• Actions : Marine and land management plans– Reef observation– Turtle tagging– Fishing techniques adaptation– Waste management– Awareness, etc.

• Local management: conservative committees– Everyone is involved: youth, mamas and papas

- Today: 14 MPAS -

4. Lesson learned to share• Marine Protected Areas

– Protocol to set up. Editing tools: DVDs, handbooks– It takes time: start with actions easy to implement and communicate

• Fishing– Tools: awareness, techniques, gears (FAD trials, adapt gillnets sizes, fishing

seasons)

• Even agricultural and forestry issues– Coastal rehabilitation thanks to forest nurseries– Food security

• Network (stronger than one community), help from local and overseas volunteers

5. Tourism as a perspective• Sustainable tourism in line with local issues• Alternative incomes for NPMLPAs projects • The NPMLPA has identified the need for tourism as a income generating activity in order to

fund conservation activities.

• Discover the area:Nature:- Turtle sponsorship– Snorkeling in the MPA with local guides – hiking and garden tours with local guides,– Kayaking tour (project)

– Life: Accommodation:- Bungalows- Community centers eg. Womans Clubs- Homestays- Camping- Food (local food) and day trips

• Results:– > Around 20 bungalows,

with day tours– > School groups, tourists

Results:- A number of villages have bungalows with a total of 18 throughout Nguna and Pele- Days trips to Pele for snorkeling and village tour- Hiking day tour on Nguna to visit the extinct volcano.

- Income generated by fees to snorkel in MPAs, turtle sponsorship , t-shirt sales and visiting groups.

- The NPMLPA hope to develop its own adventure tour to fund additional conservation activities.

TANKIO PARUA!

Nguna Pele Marine and Land Protected Area Network Chairman: John Ronneth

+ 678 7796694www.marineprotectedarea.com

marineprotectedarea@hotmail.com