Objective:
This report provides a foundational database for identifying ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) options to enhance community resilience to the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities.
Key Contents:
Challenge: Rural communities in Malekula are facing threats from climate change (storms, sea level rise, rainfall changes) and socio-economic pressures (population growth, declining agricultural productivity, overfishing).
Assessment Methodology: The research team used a hybrid approach, combining Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA) to prioritize EbA options.
Highest-ranked EbA projects:
Establishing model demonstration gardens, extension programs, and seedling nurseries.
Integrate agricultural extension programs with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Community Forest Conservation Areas (CCAs).
Combine forest conservation (CCA) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Implementation and Management: Implementation must ensure inclusiveness, cultural relevance, and focus on community capacity building. Strategies should integrate Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) to ensure the rights of all stakeholders.
Conclusion: Protecting forest and coral reef ecosystems is essential to sustaining livelihoods, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable green growth in line with Vanuatu's National Sustainable Development Plan. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) should be conducted regularly to adjust the project to meet actual needs.
