25 June 2025, North Tanna, Vanuatu - In the Pacific, Melanesian communities such as those in Nusumetu, nestled in Green Hills of North Tanna in Vanuatu, myths are not just stories, they are maps of identity, land rights, and spiritual connection. The yam myth of Nusumetu is centred on why the land and forests must be respected and preserved.
Nusumetu was a taboo area, before being merged with Tipinime as a joint conservation area. It is traditionally protected for the remnant forest and the stones of the area following local beliefs regarding the traditional myth of yam with 'white spots' or Nusumetu as in north Tanna dialect.
Tipinime is a community conservation area in North Tanna and is part of a conservation initiative alongside Nusumetu. These areas are managed by local communities in the Naka region and are officially recognised under Vanuatu’s Environmental Protection and Conservation Act. The merging of Nusumetu with Tipinime into a joint conservation brings to recognition both ecological and cultural values, integrating traditional knowledge and modern conservation as a best practice in environmental stewardship.
The myth of Nusumetu is deeply rooted in local beliefs and traditional ecological knowledge. This yam is not just a plant, it symbolises a sacred connection to the land, ancestors, and spiritual beliefs. The belief of the community, as shared by a village elder, is that centuries ago, one season, as the yams began to sprout, community elders noticed something strange, a single yam plant growing taller and brighter than the rest. When unearthed, it was discovered that the yam was marked with white spots.
The village elders gathered and claimed that the yam or Nusumetu was the sacred yam of the ancestors and was a gift from the spirits, a sign that the land was blessed. But it came with a warning that no one must eat it. It was to be returned to the earth, buried in a sacred grove, where the yam turned into a large white stone, standing like a silent guardian of the forest.
From that day on, the place where the yam was buried became a taboo area, a sacred site. The community called it Nusumetu, in honour of the yam. They built no homes there, cut no trees, and hunted no animals. The forest was left untouched, a living shrine to the myth and the spirits who had gifted them the sign.
Up to this day, the white stone and forest in the Nusumetu area are also considered sacred, linked to ancestral spirits tied to the yam. These beliefs led to the area being traditionally protected long before recent conservation efforts. The Nusumetu Community Conservation site, now part of a joint conservation initiative with Tipinime, is not only a biodiversity hotspot but also a living cultural landscape.
As part of the communities’ efforts for ecotourism, visitors are guided through ancestral paths and forested highlands with the journey designed to honour the myth and the land, reinforcing the idea of "taking nothing but photographs, leaving nothing but footprints."
The story of the white stone, which is still visible to this day in the forest, have been passed down within the community by the elders, which at times get slightly altered but retains its message that the forest remained, rich with life and mystery, protected not by fences, but by belief and the community. The Nusumetu Community Conservation site is home to endemic palms and other native species, which are also part of the cultural narrative.
To support restoration efforts at the community conservation site, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) led Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) commenced restoration efforts at a key site to pilot an invasive species management initiative. It was also chosen as a site to reintroduce lost native species as key actions for climate change adaptation.
In mid-May, the New Zealand Government funded PRISMSS - Restoring Island Resilience Project through its Resilient Ecosystems-Resilient Communities (RERC) programme in coordination with the Vanuatu Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, conducted a four-day community training on safely managing invasive weeds to restore priority ecological sites at the Nusumetu Community Conservation site.
The four-day mission included a practical weed management training with the Nusumetu community, focused on introduced management approaches, safe use of herbicides and their application to manage invasive weeds at the site.
Community Elder, Mr Enauta Johnson who has been actively involved in conservation efforts at the Nusumetu Community Conservation Area shared on the conclusion of the training that, “when the trees are strong, so are our people, the forest speaks to those who listen.”
“These words stay with us as we walk through our conservation site, feeling the connection between our ancestors and the land beneath our feet.”
“We’re not just protecting nature, we’re honouring the teachings of our elders and ensuring that future generations can inherit a living legacy."
While sharing her reflections, Ms Mirak Enanita from the Nusumetu-Tipinine community commented that, “our forests provide for us and have been taking care of our people for generations, so it is important that we as a community also look after it”.
“There have been many prophesies by our forefathers who have always told us to look after our lands as it will reward and sustain us in the future. Our forests hold a deep and sacred connection to our traditions and way of life.”
Ms Martha Sam, added after the conclusion of the four-day community training that “the community training facilitated by PRISMSS truly empowered us women to take a more active role in conservation”.
“We gained valuable knowledge about the different types of invasive species present at our conservation site and how to manage them better by using the right herbicides safely."
PRISMSS Programme Coordinator, Mr Josef Pisi elaborated that, “our restoration projects require the support and participation of local communities and respecting their cultural values builds trust and encourages collaboration”.
“We align our interventions with local beliefs which are more likely to be maintained and protected by the community over time as restoration isn’t just about removing invasive species, it’s about restoring relationships between people, land, and ecosystems and cultural values are part of that ecosystem”.
PRISMSS continues to implement several initiatives in Vanuatu, including programmes on Natural Enemies, Natural Solutions (NENS), and the RERC restoration on Tanna. Through these collaborative efforts, SPREP through PRISMSS aims to support Pacific communities in managing invasive species and preserving biodiversity for generations across the region.
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About PRISMSS: The Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) is a coordinating mechanism designed to facilitate the scaling up of operational management of invasive species in the Pacific. PRISMSS brings together experts to provide support within the Pacific region with a focus on protection of indigenous biodiversity and ecosystem function. As a service provider, PRISMSS provides a comprehensive suite of support services in a cohesive, effective, efficient, and accessible manner to Pacific Island countries and territories.
Restoring Island Resilience (RIR): The PRISMSS - Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) is a New Zealand-PRISMSS collaboration project that aims to improve Pacific Island Countries and territories livelihoods and resilience to climate change by reducing the impact of invasive species on natural and agricultural ecosystems through the six PRISMSS programmes.
PRISMSS Powered by: New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade, UK International Development, GEF, UNEP & SPREP
PRISMSS Partners: Birdlife International, NZ Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Pacific Community and SPREP
PRISMSS Programmes: Natural Enemies Natural Solutions (NENS), Predator Free Pacific (PFP), Protect Our Islands (POI), Protect Our Marine Areas (POMA), Resilient Ecosystems Resilient Communities (RERC), War On Weeds (WOWs)
For additional information please contact Mr Dominic Sadler, PRISMSS Manager on dominics@sprep.org or Mr Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on nitishn@sprep.or