Invasive species are the leading driver of biodiversity loss in the Pacific, undermining food security, freshwater systems, and climate resilience. For Vanuatu, where forests cover more than one-third of the land and provide vital resources for communities, tackling invasive plants has become a national priority.
Earlier this September, Vanuatu’s Department of Forestry joined a regional forest management initiative aimed at mapping and controlling invasive species with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) programme. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the initiative extends a participatory forest management model that was first piloted in Fiji and Tonga.
