Community-Based Blue Carbon Management for Undine Bay, Vanuatu
As part of SPREP's MACBLUE project, NCC, in partnership with Alluvium Group sister companies - Alluvium International, EcoFutures and Alluvium Consulting, delivered community-based management planning for mangrove and seagrass ecosystems in Undine Bay, north Efate, Vanuatu. The project focused on strengthening coastal biodiversity conservation and protecting blue carbon ecosystems that provide important environmental, social and economic benefits to local communities.
Working with the communities of Paonangisu and Siviri, government agencies and provincial stakeholders, the project combined community consultation, ecological assessment and management planning to identify key ecosystem values, threats and opportunities. The work highlighted the importance of mangroves and seagrass for fisheries, biodiversity, coastal protection and climate resilience, while identifying pressures including coastal development, grazing, cyclone impacts and sea level rise.
The project delivered a practical management framework centred on eight priority actions, including Community Conservation Area designation, environmental education, coastal planning, habitat restoration, exclusion and buffer zones, and improved understanding of mangrove dieback. Capacity building and stakeholder engagement were integral to ensuring local ownership and long-term implementation.
The resulting management plan provides a pathway for community-led conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems in Undine Bay, supporting biodiversity outcomes, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods while strengthening collaboration between communities and government agencies.
