1. Environmental Impact Assessment- An Environmental Tool to Achieve Sustainable development
Presented by:
Mr. Russell Nari, Deputy Director
Miss. Catherine. Malosu, EIA Officer

2. Global Challenges for Vanuatu
Small island nation with limited natural resources
Small economy scale-subsistence orientated
Isolated-high transportation costs
Challenges of Globalization and liberisation

3. National Challenges for Vanuatu- Pre and Post Independence
Clear understanding and control of the global challenges
State of confusion, from national government to community policies and ideologies
Interpretation of development from a Ni-Vanuatu perspective.

4. Establishment of the Environmental Management and Conservation Act No
Establishment of the Environmental Management and Conservation Act No. 12 of 2002
Process of establishing the Environmental Management and Conservation Act No. 12 of 2002 (EMC Act) took 7 years, since 1995
Consultation with relevant stakeholders from National Government, Non-government Organizations and Private Sector
Passed through parliament in December 2002 and received anonymous vote.
Gazzetted in March

5. Purpose of the EMC Act
The Environmental Management and Conservation Act No. 12 of 2002 (EMC Act) are laws designed to protect, conserve, develop and manage the environment of Vanuatu for all peoples.
Provides a framework consisting of guidelines and procedures to assess and manage potential risks.
Mandates the development of stand alone regulations to enforce the protection and conservation of the environment

6. Scope of the EMC Act Environment Impact Assessment Bioprospecting
Community Conservation Areas

7. Environmental Impact Assessment Process
Refer to EIA Legislation
An application for any project, proposal or development activity not exempted by section 13, is received
Inform VEU of decision
within 10 days
EIA is not required due to exemption
EIA
NOT REQUIRED
no conditions apply
Preliminary Environment Assessment
Development
Proceeds
EIA
NOT REQUIRED
conditions apply
Monitoring of conditions
EIA IS
REQUIRED
Refer application to VEU
VEU Director can
Directly requests a PEA
Project
Completion
If more than one government agency, VEU will decide lead agency to conduct PEA
Continued

8. Environmental Assessment Process continued….
VEU registers the particulars of the project in the Environmental Registry
VEU consults with stakeholders
Custom landowners, chiefs and other interested parties
Consultation with project proponent to establishes TOR
2. Refers the application back to VEU for further assessment, unless it is a government project
VEU establishes
Terms of Reference (TOR)
Proponent publishes public notice of development inviting written submissions-still a proposed thought
VEU refers TOR to project proponent
30 days to respond to written comments by project proponent
1. Application Accepted with or without terms
VEU conducts review of EIA and makes a recommendation on the project to the Minister
EIA
conducted
Minister considers recommendations and makes a decision
3. Application rejected

9. EIA Applications to Date
General Tourism Developments, particularly along the coastline- 8
Forestry operations- 1
Mine Prospecting- 2
Hydropower - 2
Industry-Wharf, roads, airstrip- 11
Residential subdivision-Applying Strata Title - 8
Fresh Water Fisheries - 1
….this is still increasing!…

10. Sarakata HydroPower Project

11. Reclamation- Le Lagoon Foreshore

12. Introduced Freshwater Fisheries

13. The Grand Hotel

14. Emua Jetty

15. Kakula Island Resort

16. Residential Foreshore Development along No. 2 Lagoon

17. Issues and challenges of the enforcement of EIA Legislation
General understanding for the importance of EIA process- What? Why?
Developments that have commenced prior to the gazzetting of the EMC Act
Money Vs Time
Monitoring
Human resource capacity for full and effective enforcement
Claim of land owners and custom owners rights to develop on the land

18. Lessons Learnt from EIA process
Perceived as a response to a need to resolve and control the rate of development (EMC Act)
Education, awareness and establishing standards
Gain of appreciation from developers to be environmental conscious-both in design and planning of their respective developments, proposals or projects

19. Using EIA as a tool to achieve Sustainable Development
Monitoring and controlling the rate of natural resource utilisation for development.
Consultative and transparent process to allow informed decision making on whether or not a development or investment should proceed.
Full appreciation of preservation of natural heritage being the attractant to investment within and abroad.

20. Using EIA as a tool to achieve Sustainable Development [Cont’d]
EIA process and procedures integrated into respective government sector policies to give full effect of the EMC Act and influence decision-making within the EIA process for ANY development projects.