Suva, Fiji  – A major new report, Reviving Melanesia’s Ocean Economy: The Case for Action, launched today, has revealed that the ocean is a much larger part of Melanesia’s economy and future prosperity than previously understood.

Melanesia is a large sub-region in the Pacific that extends from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region includes Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

The Government of Vanuatu has decided to develop an oceans policy, which aligns with recommendations from the
Commonwealth Secretariat.
This report summarises the main findings1 of an analysis and assessment of 69 instruments of legislation and
subordinate policies and plans that are relevant to management and use of Vanuatu’s territorial waters and therefore
relevant to the development of the national oceans policy. The review of Vanuatu’s legislation, policies, strategies and

 Van-KIRAP Traditional Knowledge Calendars  for the Province of Malampa, 

Van-KIRAP Traditional Knowledge Seasonal Calendar for Penama Province

Van - KIRAP Traditional Knowledge Calendars for Shefa Province

Van-KIRAP Traditional Knowledge Calendars - Tafea Province

 The Van- KIRAP Traditional Knowledge Calendars for Torba Province

 The Van- KIRAP Traditional Knowledge Calendars for Sanma Province

The environment of Vanuatu including its land based resources are extremely vulnerable to climate-related hazards, such as cyclones strong wind gusts, droughts, heats spells, floods and sea level rise/storm surges. Most of these hazards are precipitated by natural weather phenomena and therefore will be exacerbated by the current and future impacts of climate change. This vulnerability is a threat not only to the livelihoods of the people of Vanuatu but also to a healthy and prosperous nation.

Pamphlet describing nature, origin & warning categories of tropic cyclones

This pamplet provides some of the important informations about what we can do when there is a Tsunami warning taking place.

This are some of the first and main facts to be aware of and it is some of the knowledge that could save your life.

The Pacific island region is highly prone to natural disasters,
especially cyclones, droughts and volcanic eruptions. These
impose a heavy economic toll, diverting resources away from
all forms of development. In a region so dependent on
agriculture as the Pacific Islands, reducing exposure to and
mitigating against the effects of natural disasters offers
immediate and substantial benefits to the sustainable
development of the region.
This report provides a detailed account of the interrelationships
between disasters and agricultural systems in

Vanuatu is expected to incur, on average, 48 million
USD per year in losses due to earthquakes and tropical
cyclones. In the next 50 years, Vanuatu has a 50% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 330 million USD and
casualties larger than 725 people, and a 10% chance
of experiencing a loss exceeding 540 million USD and
casualties larger than 2,150 people.
 

Climate Change in the Pacific is a rigorously researched, peer-reviewed scientific assessment of the climate of the western Pacific region. Building on the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this two volume publication represents a comprehensive resource on the climate of the Pacific.

A national debriefing workshop to identify lessons learned following Tropical Cyclone Pam (TC Pam) was facilitatedby the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) and

The WASH Media materials consists of the following audio and video files:

Vanuatu ranks as the world’s most vulnerable country due to its high exposure to natural disasters, scattered island geography, narrow economic base, inadequate communication and transportation networks, and limited capacity to cope with disasters including those caused or exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Annually Vanuatu is impacted by a number of cyclones, which are expected to become more intense under current climatic projections, with coastal communities and ecosystems being most vulnerable and impacted by these events.