1. The Vanuatu project partners The Vanuatu Environmental Science society Implementing partner The Vanuatu Fisheries Department Project Partner The Department of Environmental protection and Conservation Project Partner

2. Seagrasses in Vanuatu

3. Seagrass studies in Vanuatu  There have been 2 scientific assessments of seagrasses in Vanuatu as part of wider biodiversity assessments:  Chambers M.R., Nguyen F, Navin K.F. Seagrass communities. In : Done T.J. (ed.), Navin K.F. (ed.) Vanuatu marine resources : report of a biological survey. Townsville : Australian Institute of Marine Science, 1990, (501), p. 92- 103.  Payri, Claude. "Benthic algal and seagrass communities from Santo island in relation to habitat diversity." (2011): 337-368. In The Natural History of Santo. P Bouchet, Le Guyader H, Pascal O (eds.) Muséum national d’Histoire naturella, Paris: IRD, Marseille; Pro-natura international, Paris, 572p. (patrimonies naturels; 70).

4. 9 species of seagrasses have been identified in Vanuatu Thalassia hemprichii Halodule uninervis Cymodocea rotundata Halophil ovalis The most commonly found species Images: Catherine Collier, Ian Image Library (ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/)

5. The knowledge gap  There has never been a complete scientific evaluation of the seagrasses in Vanuatu  The area of the seagrass beds is unknown.  The current threat level to dugongs and seagrasses is unknown.

6. The Global Project  Title: Enhancing the effectiveness of conservation of Dugongs and their seagrass ecosystems at globally important sites in the Indian and Pacific Oceans Basins  Funded by GEF,  Facilitated by CMS-dugong MoU,  Project managed by Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

7.  Goal: To improve the conservation status of dugongs and their seagrass habitats across the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins.  Period : 1 Jan 2015 – 31 Dec 2019  Geographic scope: 8 dugong range countries  38 Field projects  20+ partners

8. Participating countries  Vanuatu  Solomon Islands  Timor Leste  Malaysia  Indonesia  Sri Lanka  Madagascar  Mozambique

9. Aims of the projects in Vanuatu  To develop the Vanuatu Nation Plan for conservation of dugongs and their seagrass habitats.  up date the information with respect to the distribution of dugongs and seagrass beds and the threats they face in Vanuatu.  To increase awareness of the importance of conservation of dugongs and their seagrass habitats.  To encourage the custom landowners to create and register Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) in places identified as important for dugong and seagrasses

10. Activities  Survey  Community awareness workshops  National dugong and seagrass action plan  National Facilitating Committee

11. Survey  The Surveys will be conduct the survey throughout 2016  A map of hotspots for dugong and seagrass conservation will be created from the results of the survey

12. Community awareness workshops  Awareness workshops for dugong and seagrass conservation in Vanuatu will be conducted concentrating on the ‘hotspots’ identified by the survey.  Encourage landowners in hotspot areas to create Community Conservation Areas (CCAs) and incorporate dugong and seagrass conservation actions in to the conservation plans.

13. National Dugong and seagrass action plan Develop recommendations which could be incorporated into a National dugong and seagrass action plan.

14. Thank you for your attention