Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area

1. Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area Vanuatu Nguna and Pele Islands Republic of Vanuatu, South Pacific Website: http://www.marineprotectedarea.com.vu Email: marineprotectedarea@hotmail.com Phone contact: Kalpat Tarip, Manager, +678 77 61370 Map & Flag Credit: http://www.vivh.com/vanuatuff.html

2. About Us: • Network of 16 Villages on Two Islands • Population of Nguna and Pele: ~2000 • Melanesian Culture • Language: Ngunese (although official language of Vanuatu is Bislama, a form of pidgin English)

3. Mission Statement: • To promote appropriate ways to use land and sea natural resources. To help increase the numbers of natural resources & to ensure that our local resources enhance our current lifestyle as well as benefit our future generation.

4. Why We Exist: With little national support island communities often feel disempowered to manage resources The creation of the MPA Network is a reaction to threats; communities on Nguna and Pele supporting one another in order to solve collective problems

5. What We Do at the Nguna-Pele MPA: Primary School Awareness Resource Management Planning Community Workshops Tourism Promotion Sea Turtle Tagging MPA Management Meetings

6. Challenges and Obstacles We Have Faced: Livelihood Security Large Area- Communication Meeting Attendance Regulation Enforcement Training and Equipment Endangered Species

7. Accomplishments of the Nguna-Pele MPA • Expansion to 10 new villages • Mix traditional practices with biodiversity conservation. • Upholds custom respect and chiefly system. • 3800 hectares of managed coral reef habitat • Alternative and sustainable income sources. • Improved size and abundance of natural resources

8. Accomplishments of the Nguna-Pele MPA • Democratic, well-respected MPA committee • Knowledgeable local Staff • Better Waste Management Practices • Less watershed pollution. • International Recognition • Runner-Up for World Challenge Competition in 2005. • Now working regularly with international organizations like LMMA and Oceanswatch.

9. Impacts Made: • Nguna and Pele villagers have become some of the most environmentally conscious and informed people in Vanautu. • Network of conservation areas and good management greatly benefits the preservation of biodiversity on Nguna and Pele. • Reduction in poverty in the community through: • Ecotourism development • Paid positions for 4 members of the community • Reduced boat transport fees for community members • Unity: when the community sees how multiple villages can work together on one large project like this one they have the confidence to take that spirit on to other avenues. • The NAPE Council of Chiefs was formed recently, bringing leaders from the two islands together. • Inclusion of youth and women in participating in the conservation process. • Youth and women are given roles within the community pertaining to conservation, which builds confidence for members of these two groups.

10. Lessons Learned: • Bringing many villages together for a common goal is not always easy • Some villages are more ready than others. • Understand and work with inter-village relationship history. • Some villages have a better share of valuable natural resources than others. • Community Ownership is crucial to success. • Management structures and processes must be in place before activities can be undertaken. • Even small groups of people working together can make a big impact.

11. Ta Parua- Thank -uAngawo Moro Punusiko!