Vunausi Environmental Conservation Organization - VECO

06/10/2026

Yesterday 4th Oct 2026 team blong Vunausi Environmental Orgarnization VECO mo Forestry Department oli bin out long Vusiroro Vilij mo mekem way blong kasem bak Luganville nomàta long bad wheather we yumi stap go tru long hem.
After lo few days blong stap wetem ol pipol long ol vilijes lo bigbay bush blong providem services igo long olgeta long saed blon Forestry awearneses, Sustainable land mo Forest management, importens blong g*t forest konserveson, replanting bak ol tris long comunities mo mekem wok blo maping insaed long Big Bay inland Area council, i g*t plante gudfal adventure mo tu ol jalenj istap.
Be yumi must wok tugeta oltaem.
thank yu tumas Vunausi Environmental Conservation Organization - VECO VCAP 2 - Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project Department of Forests-Vanuatu

Photo Credit: Joely Frank.

30/09/2026

📍 Team Deployment | Bigbay Inland, Santo

The Vunausi Environmental Conservation Organization - VECO team was deployed today to Bigbay Inland, where they will be working with the communities over the next two weeks. 🌱

This deployment is part of the VCAP 2 - Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project, which is restoring degraded agricultural lands and promoting agroforestry, with more than 6,000 hectares to be planted as part of a climate resilience approach for Vanuatu's communities.

The project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and implemented in partnership with:

🤝 Ministry of Climate Change Vanuatu
🤝 Matarani Area Council
🤝 Bigbay Inland communities

We sincerely thank our donors and partners, and the people of Bigbay Inland, for welcoming the team and working alongside us.

📲 Follow our page for more updates from the field.

09/09/2026

🎽 VECO T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE! 🎽

Exclusive limited-edition t-shirts for VECO CCA Members and VECO Staff!

📌 Limited stock only
📌 Exclusive to members & staff

Ready to order? Send us a message today! 💬

25/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW??

The Vunausi Community Conservation Area (CCA) covers over 1,000 hectares of forest and coastline and was officially launched in April 2026. The initiative is led by the communities of Vunausi, encompassing all areas within the designated map boundaries.

The area's natural resources and environment continue to face significant pressure, with forests, coastlines, and marine habitats deteriorating at a concerning rate. Invasive species remain among the contributing threats. VECO works in partnership with these communities on coastal rehabilitation and conservation activities to safeguard the long-term health of the Vunausi CCA.

This initiative is implemented through the support of Live & Learn Vanuatu and the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation DEPC, with funding provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) throug the New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu. The partnership supports communities in the sustainable protection and management of their land and marine resources.

For further information or to support conservation efforts at Vunausi CCA, please contact us at [email protected].

24/07/2026

VECO would like to introduce and celebrate Patrick Nassif, our student volunteer who joined us for a student attachment from 6–24 July 2026.

Patrick is a first-year student at the University of Sydney, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Engineering. During his time with VECO's field team, he worked alongside us on the VCAP 2 project in Big Bay, gaining hands-on experience in coastal and environmental conservation work.
Among his contributions, Patrick helped collect 8,400 Mahogany wildings from our base in South Santo, which will then transported to Big Bay for transplanting at the project site.

We sincerely appreciate Patrick's dedication, curiosity, and hard work throughout his placement. As he prepares to return to Australia on the 25th to continue his second semester, VECO wishes him all the best in his studies. We hope to welcome him back to Vanuatu and to our team again in the future.

Thank you tumas, Patrick (Lawa), and safe travels!

02/07/2026

Thank yu tumas MP Franklyn Ezra William long bikfala sapot weh yu kivim ko kam lo CCA blo yumi long Vunausi.

Komeje Tavera.

Mi glad blong sapotem Vunausi Community Conservation Area long smol vatu blong committee hemi save registerem organisation mo openem new bank account blong organisation.

Vunausi hemi wan organisation we hemi born long Saot Santo wetem aim blong wok kolosap wetem community blong protectem environment blong mifala.

Mi glad blong luk wan organisation olsem wetem wan strong vision blong protectem ol risos blong migfala blong fuija blong ol pikinini blong mifala.

Taem yumi invest long priority mo wanem we hemi MATTER long laef blong ol pipol blong yumi, yumi stap setem wan raet direction blong tomorrow blong yumi.

02/07/2026

Vunausi Environmental Conservation Organization (VECO) is honoured to be represented by its Project Manager, Mr. McIntyre Vutilolo, as a panelist at the VCAP II Panel Discussion held during the Pacific Innovation Forum on Climate and Environment (PIFCE), at Warwick Le Lagoon Resort, Port Vila.

Speaking on the theme today "Community Innovations and Lessons from the Field," Mr. Vutilolo shared valuable insights and experiences drawn from VECO's ongoing work with the community of Bigbay under the Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project Phase II (VCAP II), highlighting the meaningful changes achieved through this partnership in strengthening climate resilience, sustainable land management and environmental sustainability.

VECO extends its sincere appreciation to the VCAP 2 - Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project, the Ministry of Climate Change Vanuatu, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP and all stakeholders for the invitation and opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue on behalf of the communities we serve.

22/06/2026

22/06/2026

22/06/2026

Happy Forestry Tree Planting Day.
Plant a Tree. Grow a Future.

Mataloi Village, Bigbay inland, Santo, Vanuatu | 22 June 2026.

In commemoration of National Forestry Tree Planting Day, a series of meaningful activities were held today at Mataloi village, bringing together government agencies, international development partners, and local communities in a collective commitment to environmental sustainability and community development.

The highlight of the day was the unveiling and official handover of the Matarani Area Council Standard Nursery Hub, a significant milestone for the communities of the Matarani Area Council. This purpose-built facility will serve as a cornerstone for future tree propag*tion and reforestation efforts in the area.

Following the handover, participants joined together in the planting of Mahogany wildlings at Mataloi Primary & Secondary School, instilling a spirit of environmental stewardship in the younger generation while contributing to the restoration and greening of the local landscape.

These achievements were made possible through the dedicated collaboration of key stakeholders, donors, and partners, including the VCAP 2 - Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Team, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, the Vanuatu Government through the
Ministry of Climate Change Vanuatu, the
Department of Forests-Vanuatu, the Department of Climate Change, Sanma Provincial Government and the communities of the Matarani Area Council.

Vunausi Environmental Conservation Organization - VECO is deeply honoured to be part of this important program. As the designated implementing agency, VECO will lead and carry out all related activities over the next six months, working closely with all partners and stakeholders to ensure the program's and project objectives are met and its benefits are felt across the communities of the Matarani Area Council on Bigbay inland.

Today's events reflect a strong, unified commitment to protecting Vanuatu's forests, building community resilience, and securing a greener future for generations to come.