31 July 2026, Port Vila - Vanuatu has taken an essential step to enhance national efforts to protect and sustainably manage the nation’s marine and coastal resources.
It follows a national workshop to support Vanuatu’s preparation for accession to the Noumea Convention, including implementation.
Held in Port Vila from 22 -24 June, the workshop was facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Legal Services and Governing Bodies Department.
“The recently concluded workshop on the Noumea Convention provided invaluable clarity and strategic direction for our ongoing environmental and regional commitments,” said Mr Osborne Melenamu, Director of Vanuatu Department of Environment Protection and Conversation (DEPC).
Vanuatu has signalled its support to accede to the Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment in the Pacific region, also known as the Noumea Convention.
The Convention is important to Vanuatu given the country’s extensive marine resources and dependence on healthy coastal ecosystems and vulnerability to climate change, marine pollution, biodiversity loss and natural disasters.
The workshop funded by the Government of New Zealand under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Climate Funding Agreement was attended by the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation, Compliance Unit and the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning and the Oceans Affairs Office.
The three-day meeting offered structured sessions allowing participants to gain a deeper understanding of the core framework of the Noumea Convention, thematic alignment and cross-sectoral integration.
Mr Osborne Melenamu added that the opportunity to unpack the fundamental principles and mandates that govern marine and coastal environment protection across the region was extremely important, as well as identifying key environmental thematic areas and exploring practical ways to integrate these priorities into regional and national frameworks.
“This workshop served as an essential stepping stone toward enhancing institutional knowledge, streamlining inter-sectoral collaboration, and ensuring our national efforts effectively support the protection and sustainable management of our shared marine and coastal resources,” said Mr Osborne.
SPREP Director of Environment Governance, Mr Jope Davetanivalu, acknowledged the Government of Vanuatu for its decision to accede to the Noumea Convention.
“The Noumea Convention is extremely important to the work of SPREP as the regional organisation established by the Governments and Administrations of the Pacific charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources,” he said.
Director Davetanivalu also highlighted efforts undertaken by SPREP as the Secretariat, and Parties to strengthen the Noumea Convention. These include the implementation of the Workplan and Budget approved at the 18th Noumea Convention Conference of the Parties Meeting in 2025.
Key priority activities currently in progress include the development of a Noumea Convention Communications Strategy and a Sustainable Financing Strategy.
“These steps reflect our collective commitment to ensure that the Noumea Convention remains a strong and effective framework for regional cooperation. And SPREP also continues to encourage those countries who have yet to become Parties to do so. We standby as the Secretariat to provide support.”
To find out more about the Noumea Convention, please visit: https://www.sprep.org/convention-secretariat/noumea-convention or email Ms Kathleen Taituave-Afereti kathleent@sprep.org