Vanuatu Islands natural forest are daily facing threats to deforestation, climate change negative impacts and volcanism. The island of Tanna with over 6,000 people living a subsistence gardening invovle slash and burning of forest and natural vegetation for food crops production. 2015 further loss natural vegetation on the isalnd from the category 5 cyclone Pam destructive winds when stipped the isalnd to bare ground. On daily basis the continous ash fall from activ Yasur volconoe suppress further the regeneration of vegetation. The loss of vegetation impacted the food security in terms of loss of food trees.
the project will build local capacity of indigenous women in climate Smart forest restoration.
The project will address forest restoration for food security in most vulnerable communities where impacted by volcanicism and within cyclone prone areas that reduced local food security. The project will support indigenous women farmers to rear and plant trees for food, ornamental, women local crafting and medicinal plants. The plants selected will also tolerate volcanic ash fall conditions so they can grow as part of forest restoration within a volcanic ashplain areas.