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Vanuatu Policy and Legislative Review Report

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Vanuatu Policy and Legislative Review Report Review of Policy and Legislation Relating to the Use and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems in Vanuatu MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND LIVELIHOOD TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF LEGISLATION ................................................................................................................................ i ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................... ii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. iv PART 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background of the Review ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Review Purpose, Scope and Methodology .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Structure of the Report............................................................................................................................ 1 PART 2: MANGROVES IN VANUATU........................................................................................................ 3 2.1 Mangroves ............................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Threats ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Governance and Management Framework on Mangroves .................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Land Tenure ............................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2.2 Government ............................................................................................................................................. 6 2.2.3 Mangrove Management .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Traditional Resource Management ......................................................................................................... 7 PART 3: POLICY ...................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Existing and Proposed Policy Frameworks ............................................................................................ 10 3.1.1 Development Policies and Plans ............................................................................................................ 11 3.1.1.1 Priorities and Action Agenda 2006 - 2015 (2006) ................................................................. 11 3.2 Environment Policies and Plans ............................................................................................................. 12 3.2.1 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan/ National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (1999) ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.2.2 National Integrated Coastal Management Framework (NICMF) and Implementation Strategy for Vanuatu: A National Approach to Cooperative Integrated Coastal Management (2010) ......................... 14 3.3 Sector Policies and Plans ....................................................................................................................... 15 3.3.1 Overarching Productive Sector Policy 2012-2017 (Draft) ..................................................................... 15 Strategies .............................................................................................................................................. 16 3.3.2 Vanuatu Forest Policy 2010 – 2020 (2010) ........................................................................................... 17 3.3.3 Vanuatu National Energy Policy Framework (Draft) ............................................................................. 17 3.3.4 Vanuatu Land Use Planning & Zoning Policy Re-draft (May 2012) ....................................................... 18 3.3.5 Aquaculture Development Plan 2008-2013 .......................................................................................... 19 3.4 Climate Change Policy and Plans ........................................................................................................... 20 3.4.1 National Adaptation Program for Action (NAPA) .................................................................................. 20 Other adaptation options recognized by the report include: ............................................................... 20 3.5 Evaluation of Reviewed Plans and Policies ............................................................................................ 21 PART 4: LEGISLATION ............................................................................................................................ 23 4.1 Overview of Vanuatu’s Legal and Governance Systems ............................................................. 23 4.2 Mangroves, Terrestrial and Marine Tenure Rights, and Legal Mechanisms for Conservation .. 24 4.2.1 Customary Land and Marine Tenure ..................................................................................................... 25 4.2.1.1 Leased Land Tenure .............................................................................................................. 25 4.2.2 Statutory and Customary Mechanisms for Conservation ..................................................................... 27 4.2.2.1 Customary Marine Taboos .................................................................................................... 27 4.2.2.2 National Parks and Nature Reserves under the National Parks Act 1993 [Cap 224] ............ 27 4.2.2.3 Community Conservation Area (CCA) under the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act 2002 .......................................................................................................................... 28 4.2.2.4 Conservation Areas under the Forestry Act 2006[Cap 276] ................................................. 29 4.2.2.5 Prescribed Protected Species under the Forestry Act 2006 [Cap 276] ................................. 29 4.2.2.6 Fisheries Conservation and Management under the Fisheries Act [Cap 315]: Designated Fisheries and Marine Reserves ............................................................................................................. 29 4.2.2.7 Designated Fisheries ............................................................................................................. 29 4.2.2.8 Marine Reserves ................................................................................................................... 30 4.3 Sectoral Legislation Regulating Activities Which May Affect Mangroves .................................. 31 4.3.1 Regulation of Fisheries: Fisheries Act 2005, Fisheries Regulations Order No. 28 of 2009 [Cap 315] 31 4.3.2 Regulation of Forestry: Forestry Act 2001 [Cap 276] ............................................................................ 33 4.3.2.1 Forestry Agreements ............................................................................................................ 34 4.3.2.2 Mandatory restrictions on commercial forestry operations ................................................ 35 4.3.2.3 Conservation Areas and Protected Species .......................................................................... 35 4.3.2.4 Reforestation ........................................................................................................................ 35 4.3.2.5 Licenses ................................................................................................................................. 36 4.3.3 Extractive Industries: Mines and Minerals Act 1986 [Cap 190] and Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 1993 [Cap 227] ....................................................................................................................... 36 4.3.3.1 Mines and Minerals Act 1986 [Cap 190] ............................................................................... 36 4.3.3.2 Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 1993 [Cap 227] and Petroleum Regulations Order 1997 ............................................................................................................................................ 37 4.3.4 Regulation Ports and Shipping Activities ............................................................................................... 39 4.4 Cross-Cutting Regulation: Environmental Protection, Pollution Control and Planning Legislation ............................................................................................................................................. 39 4.4.1 Environmental Protection Law .............................................................................................................. 40 4.4.1.1 Environment Protection and Conservation Act (EPCA) 2002 [Cap 283] .............................. 40 4.4.1.2 Environmental Impact Assessment under the Environmental Protection and Conservation Act [Cap 283] (EPCA) and the Environmental Impact
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