We've just uploaded a new video to Youtube and posted it on our videos page.  The video was filmed on NW Malekula island and documents three villages coming together to launch the Napi Nata Lili Environment Network. Together, these communities have set aside vast areas of marine and coastal habitats as protected areas. Island Reach was honored to be part of this celebration and to document this ceremony. The video also features a short section of IR Project Coordinator, Willie Kenneth, introducing Reef Check survey methodologies to community members.
Watch here.

Today we finished packing up the gear donated to Island Reach by Aqualung USA: 46 wetsuits for the Vanua-tai  monitors and over 120 youth snorkel kits we'll use for reef awareness activities.  The 8 large boxes will travel by seafreight and we'll receive them in Port Vila in May.

Many, many thanks to Aqualung for this generous donation and for continuing to support our work in Vanuatu!

After COP21, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) referred to small island states like Vanuatu as situated at the frontlines of climate change, but also as places that are "innovative incubators ...showcasing solutions". The Vanua-tai Monitor Network is an excellent example of such innovation. An article by Janis about the Vanua-tai and the importance of biocultural diversity  has been published in the March 2016 issue of the marine conservation and travel magazine, Seven Seas. You can read the article here.