Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area Network

The Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area Network is a local, indigenous, non-governmental organization made up of sixteen communities on two islands dedicated to the sustainable use and long-term existence of marine and terrestrial resources. It is the very first of its kind in Vanuatu and currently serves as a model for other island-initiated conservation efforts nationally and throughout the South Pacific. A collaborative effort among all island villages, the NPMPA Network's mandate is to advise, enable and strengthen individual village management initiatives. The chiefs and people of the member communities have each set aside an area of village-owned reef or forest to be considered ‘tabu' or permanently off-limits to serve as a ‘resource factory'. Member communities have elected one or two community representatives to conduct reef surveys, tag sea turtles, plant coral and run ongoing environmental awarenesses across the two islands of Nguna and Pele. A Management Committee representative of every community meets monthly to make advise the current and future management of network member's resources. Nguna and Pele's managed reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove forests and intertidal lagoons exceed 3,000 hectares. Eco-tourists are welcome to visit the vibrant coral reefs in and around the island of Nguna & Pele. Check us out on the web at www.marineprotectedarea.com.vu