1. Community Experiences Melanesia
Outline of Presentation
:- Current Issues
:- What are we doing
:- Challenges

2. Current Issues Growing population, more mouths to feed
We have around 70-80% of the Pacific’s population
Reef/land area remains the same, its doesn't grow like our populations
Our people need income, school fees
Day to day basic needs
Weak governance systems

3. Current Issues Poachers (mainly from outside our villages)
Poachers using destructive methods,
e.g. small mesh net, dynamites, UBA, herbs, sea cucumber used for fishing (poisons)
Fishing of undersize fish
Poachers know where MPAs are
Fish getting smaller

4. Current Issues
Traders selling undersize mesh nets: even if there is a ban on certain mesh size
Weak to no enforcement
Enforcement of rules should apply to traders, as well as fishers
Limited alternative livelihoods for communities
We are to religious sometimes, replenish earth with people

5. Current Issues Marine tenure systems
Land dispute issues can cause resource management problems (burning of forest, logging)
Climate change, beach errosion

6. What are we doing Establish management committees (YMST committee)
Develop management plans
Workshops, blow of kava, chew beetle nut
Setting MPAS
In open areas, there are controls on some fishing gears
Management “ridge to reef concept”
Address land and lagoon/reef management

7. What are we doing
Adaptive management, trial and error, change management actions as were learn (CBAM)
Church ministers/chiefs bless the MPA/Plan
This helps with compliance, feeling good

8. What are we doing Restocking some species (clams) Turtle conservation
Replanting trees, mangrove (looking after the habitat)
Cleaning up rubbish, waste management, composting
Organic farming

9. What are we doing Alternative activities e.g. sea weed farming,
Tourism ($)
Diving, swimming
Researchers studying environment, they give information to back community ($)

10. What are we doing Church can be strong with managing resources
Sometimes the church can put big burden on community to harvest resources, fund raising

11. What's needed in future Clear government regulations/laws are needed
Regulations, laws to empower community's to manage resources (e.g. empower fish wardens)
Support in enforcing our rules; provide equipment, (boats) to help with enforcement

12. What's needed in future Capacity building (should be continuous)
Awareness of environment, resources, sustainability
Continue and improve school education/curriculum on resources and management