Vanuatu National Environment Policy and Implementation Plan 2016-2030.

The Vanuatu National Environment Policy and Implementation Plan 2016-2030 (NEPIP) is an overarching cross-sectoral policy for the sustainable conservation, development and management of the environment of Vanuatu. The NEPIP aims to promote the environmentally sound and safe management and conservation of the natural resources and environment of Vanuatu, to provide for the co-ordination of related activities, and to outline the operational matters necessary to implement the above. To make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the strategy is focused on the following areas: - Conservation of biological, ecosystem, genetic, human and cultural diversity; - sustainable resource management; - Waste management and pollution control; - Environmental governance and capacity development; and - Financing and economic Instruments.
To this end, conservation and protected areas will be created and managed and special support, including legislative action, will be given to local conservation and protection efforts of endangered, threatened, or endemic species and ecosystems including through traditional knowledge and practices. Further, a new law will be prepared to guide the protection of biodiversity and livelihoods from the impacts of invasive species and modern technologies will be used to benefit conservation practices. Further, sustainable practices will be used to increase agriculture and fisheries production, fisheries management plans will be prepared, awareness campaigns will be developed, the pertinent legal framework including the National Land Use Planning Policy will be updated, and the processes of environmental permit applications will be reviewed. Further, local authorities and municipal planning authorities will be empowered to enact and enforce land use planning laws and regulations.
The policy also seeks to reduce rural poverty. To this end, equitable use and sustainable management of natural resources will be promoted through supporting usage rights of local communities. At least 10 scientific research projects involving local communities will be undertaken every year and environment champions such as model farmers, resource users, and interested communities will be identified and recognized. Capacity building activities such as training farmers on ow to manage planted forests will also be implemented.
Increasing the resilience of livelihoods to disasters is amongst the objectives of this policy. To this end, the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy will be fully implemented by 2030 and the government expenditure for disaster preparedness, response, risk reduction and early warning activities will be increased from 2016 baseline. By the end of 2030, all sectors have integrated disaster reduction measures into government plans and budgets.
The Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation is the national focal point for the implementation of the strategy.