The National Environment Policy (NEP) aims to establish an umbrella framework for environmental protection and conservation in Vanuatu. The NEP will facilitate implementation of the Fisheries Policy by making environmental priorities and fisheries a national agenda. Key aspects of the Fisheries Policy that relate to the environment, such as enforcement of regulations to protect coastal habitats, will be addressed. The NEP will also foster cooperation across sectors such as agriculture and forestry to establish sustainable land management practices that prevent pollution impacting fisheries. By improving coordination between agencies such as the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, the NEP can support more efficient environmental projects and resource management.

1. National Environment Policy
Presentation
NEP and Fisheries:
Towards a common and comprehensive
environmental framework
Port Vila, 31 May 2013

2. Policy Vision & Rationale
• VISION
« A clean utilization of Vanuatu’s resources for a
healthy Environment »
• RATIONALE
Umbrella Policy Framework and Roadmap for
Environmental Protection & Conservation
DEPC: leading agency with relevant partners

3. NEP Rationale
• NEP in line with Vanuatu’s constitution
– Part II, Fundamental duties:
« Every person has the following fundamental
duties to himself and his descendants and to
others (…)
(d) To protect the Republic of Vanuatu and to
safeguard the national wealth, resources and
environment in the interests of the present
generation and of future generations »

4. NEP Rationale
• NEP in line with the PAA and Overarching Sector
Policy
– PAA: « An educated, healthy and wealthy Vanuatu »
– « By 2015 Vanuatu will be among the leading
countries in achieving (…) environmental management
– « The main priority is to create an environment for
private sector led economic growth, including
activities in the primary sectors of agriculture,
forestry and fisheries, as well as tourism. »
– « The nation possesses some important advantages:
fertile land, natural resources and unspoilt
environment »

5. NEP’s 4 pillars
AIR/SPACE
LAND
SEA
NATURAL
RESOURCES
« Safeguard the
national wealth,
resources and
environment »
… for a HEALTHY
environment

6. Timeline
Policy development process
Month Policy development: steps
April - Policy Concept Note
- First national consultation workshops
- Provincial consultation preparation
May - Provincial consultations
June - Finalize draft after consultations > DEPC to work on policy directives
and submit to relevant partners and departments
- National validation workshop in Port Vila
July - Deliver cabinet paper; draft policy goes to ministry for endorsement
- Official launch

7. Identified Policy areas/priorities
1. Green Growth: A Green and Sustainable Economy for
Vanuatu
2. Climate change adaptation & mitigation
3. Conserving Vanuatu’s biodiversity
4. Land Use Planning & Management
5. Agriculture
6. Livestock
7. Forestry
8. Waste management and pollution control
9. Water & Marine resources management
10. Gender issues & marginalized populations in the context of
environment protection & conservation
11. Knowledge management
12. Education, communication & awareness
13. Policy implementation & coordination
Results of provincial consultation workshops
Fisheries

8. 9. Water & Marine Resources Management
Identified issues during provincial consultations
• Coral reefs protection
– Identifying resilient reefs and developing appropriate
protection plans
– Provincial coral reef monitoring program
– Old tires for reef replanting (Ambae, Penama)
• Community assistance
– Development of fish and prawn cultivation farms
– Drinking water protection zones
– Water conservation and management plans (incl. buffer zones)
– Replanting coconuts and coastal pandanus in buffer zones
• Ship wrecks guidelines to limit coastal pollution
• Watersheds provisions
• River banks replanting
 Now: need to formulate policy directives and strategies, in line with
Fisheries Policy!

9. NEP and Fisheries
NEP to:
• Facilitate implementation of Fisheries Policy (draft)
– Make it a national priority in a high-level document
– Break down key aspects of Fisheries Policy that have an environmental character
• Getting specific resources for enforcement and monitoring
• Strengthen Fisheries’ governance and cooperation with key sectors
– E.g. Regulate agriculture, forestry and mining practices to prevent soil loss and pollution, and
maintain the water quality needed for freshwater and coastal aquaculture > common
framework
• Foster private sector partnerships
• E.g. Provisions to develop the domestic fishing industry and access rights
• Provisions to strengthen cooperation on cross-cutting issues with DEPC and other
stakeholders, such as for:
– Marine biodiversity (protected conservation areas)
– Species and (marine) ecosystem protection and conservation
– Improved resource management (fisheries, reefs, coasts, offshore) through better
coordination and cooperation with communities and provincial authorities
– Introduction of foreign species for aquaculture purposes

10. Cross cutting issues – specific examples
Links between Fisheries and DEPC
Many issues require cooperation and joint actions
Cooperation with DEPC happening at several levels:
• DEPC Mescal programme (Mangrove ecosystem for climate change
adaptation and livelihoods): identifying, protecting and replanting
mangrove habitats throughout Vanuatu
• Establishment of protected areas
• EIA processes to protect coastal fisheries habitats from future
developments or to assess impact of introduced species
Potential to cooperate with other sectors through NEP:
• With Livestock Dept > on food security issue
• With Forestry (DoF): sustainable management of lands, control logging in
highland areas to protect catchments and minimize soil erosion

11. Conclusion
• NEP = Overarching document facilitating and
improving coordination mechanisms among
environment stakeholders
– Sharing information and data to increase
efficiency of environmental projects
• No department can work in isolation when it
comes to environmental protection and
climate change!

12. Tank yu tumas!