In response to the pressing environmental challenge of deforestation and unsustainable land use in Vanuatu, the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project recently conducted a three-day agroforestry training aimed at empowering the Lower Tagabe River communities. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote sustainable livelihood alternatives that balance agricultural productivity with environmental safeguarding.
Traditional farming practices, often involving extensive land clearing, contribute to habitat loss and soil degradation. Recognising this, the PEBACC+ project, in consultation with the Vanuatu Department of Forestry, identified agroforestry as a critical solution during early project discussions, promoting an integrated farming system where farmers plant both agricultural and forestry crops on the same land. This approach maximises land use efficiency, maintains soil nutrients, prevents erosion, and provides habitats that support biodiversity.
