The protection of iconic surf breaks needs to have a strong advocay group/base to support a wide range of actions both at the national and local level to secure the protection of the break. These actions include: participating in campaigns, networking and identifying potential technical cooperation, identifying  key persons which can offer pro bono support, assisting in developing technical files describing the surf breaks and their characteristics, etc. 

SPDA has led the registration of over 10 surf breaks which are now formally protected. This leadership is key because there is need for dynamic, strong and visible actions which can be informed to the key actors/base of stakeholders who support the idea of protecting surf breaks and their surroundings. Leadership in this context involves not only "action" per se but internal legal capacityto navigate the amnlistrative procedures and requirements to lead to the recognition of a particular surf break as subject of protection. This leadership includes: systematizing relevant documents (p.e. maps, analysis of social context, environmental and ecologic descrition of the area, map of actors, etc.), presenting them to the relevant authority (DICAPI - the Direction of Ports and Marine Officials), following and monitoring process and presenting complementary documentation, undertaking press conferences, leading media campaigns, etc.   

Though ensuring the registration of a surf break is no easy task, it is critical to ensure thata once a surf break is recognized and registered, actions are taken to ensure that the promises and advantages of protection are delivered to all actors, and local fishing communities in particular. This building bloc implies, for example: regular capacity building and interaction with children and youngsters; cleaning of beaches campaigns; recognition of local champions and leaders; monitoring development initiatives (e.g. in infraestructure which may affect a surf break), regular mettings with local actors to explore ways in which the local environment an be improved, etc.    

To achieve an effective protection of surf breaks, SPDA has built a very strong relationship with DICAPI and, in  particular, with the National Surfing Federation (FENTA)  with whom all actions are coordinated and campaigns discussed. Having a good relationship with with DICAPI  as the competent authority in registering the surf breaks is not a guarantee for success, but does facilitate actions taken as DICAPI realizes SPDA is a serious organization and is supported by a group of committed actors.  The relationship with FENTA is also very positive because FENTA is the key national institution which promotes surf and related sports.   

Women in Vanuatu play a critical role in the use and management of marine and terrestrial biodiversity, deciding what resources are harvested and in what quantities for sale in markets. By empowering women through participation in conservation committees, the NPMLPA network has been able to effect change at the individual and household level.

The coral gardening project is especially relevant for island women and girls. Many of them learned how to guide visitors to snorkel and collect fragments of coral for the climate reef garden. Women are typically those who collect the living coral fragments that have broken off the reef and are perfect for planting. Each piece of coral is extremely delicate and must be handled with care. Monitoring indicates that coral fragments collected by women have a 75% survival rate while those handled by men have only a 55% success rate. Since the inception of the program, GIZ has worked to encourage women to take the role of resource champions in each of the Nguna-Pele committees, offering special gender-focused trainings and capacity development workshops. The obvious benefit to women is that they can earn previously unavailable income from guiding for and helping guests plant coral fragments.

Coral gardening, also known as mariculture, is undertaken by collecting small pieces of broken coral in shallow waters and re-attaching them to so-called spiderweb cages (portable metal frames).

The coral fragments are eventually transplanted to large coral frames in places where the reef has been destroyed by cyclones, crown of thorns starfish or other climate change-linked hazards. The coral beds are placed in around 6 meters of water, enough to keep them safe from cyclone swells, where they can grow into full size coral colonies.

The project uses coral varieties that are particularly resilient to the climate change impacts of bleaching and ocean acidification. The artificial reefs create new habitat for fish, and provide coastline protection from waves. 

Since 2013, CCCPIR has partnered with local tour operators and bungalow owners to upscale and promote the coral gardening activity. In exchange for a financial sponsorship to the community, incoming international visitors have the opportunity to proactively contribute to adaptation during their stay. Tourists are briefed on the program, learn about climate change and its impacts on coral reefs and then snorkel together with island reef champions to collect the climate resistant coral fragment and attach them on the underwater gardening beds. Specially built coral beds were strategically placed near popular tourism snorkeling areas. The coral beds are in around 6 meters of water, enough to keep them safe from cyclone swells, but shallow enough for tourists to interact with and enjoy. Visitors can come for the day to the island, or, like some school groups from overseas, stay for many weeks planting hundreds of coral fragments.

The visitor adopts each fragment planted, and the money raised goes towards community climate change adaptation activities. The coral becomes part of the “family” and repeat visitors can follow the growth and success of their planted coral colony.

A pasture and water management plan was developed to promote integrated management of pastures, water and livestock resources throughout the communal territory of Miraflores. The goal was to strengthen community organization so that water could be distributed more effectively and grazing areas could benefit from improved rotation. The process to develop the management plan was facilitated by The Mountain Institute using a methodology to strengthen capacities, stimulating collective and social practices within the community. The plan is defined as a set of ideas that emerge from a given population, based on their own perspectives. This is achieved by means of an in-depth process of analysis. The management plan can also serve as a tool for local management in the medium term.

According to the keen interest of this community, analysis and planning have focused on grasslands and water. The plan also encouraged the community to establish a committee to maintain and operate the renovated water infrastructure so that the water continues to flow and grasslands continue to be irrigated.

1.By consensus of the interested parties, INCOPESCA, ADIO, UCR, and SINAC created a commission of co-management and created a legal framework established with executive decree DAJ-020-2005, in order to work together and this group of Co-management launches a management plan for the conservation and sustainable use of turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting on Ostional beach.

The main goal of the capacity building and local knowledge component was to provide technical knowledge for managing and conserving water, natural pastures, and livestock. Our focus was on informing community members and park rangers through evaluation workshops and training sessions on topics such as pasture fencing, water management and water distribution. A 3-D model of the Miraflores community was developed in a participatory way to facilitate planning for managing pastures and water in the communal territory. Information was gathered during participatory rural appraisals. These appraisals include specific studies focused on water, pastures, archeology, social organization, agricultural and livestock productivity.