Fighting invasive species to protect Vanuatu’s forests and people

Invasive species are the leading driver of biodiversity loss in the Pacific, undermining food security, freshwater systems, and climate resilience. For Vanuatu, where forests cover more than one-third of the land and provide vital resources for communities, tackling invasive plants has become a national priority.

Earlier this September, Vanuatu’s Department of Forestry joined a regional forest management initiative aimed at mapping and controlling invasive species with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) programme. Funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the initiative extends a participatory forest management model that was first piloted in Fiji and Tonga.

The first phase of training in Vanuatu is taking place from 15 to 25 September 2025, bringing together community members, forestry officers, and regional experts. Over one week, 12  representatives from the Department of Forestry, the Vanuatu National Statistics Office, and Biosecurity Vanuatu completed an intensive workflow focused on mapping the coverage of priority invasive species selected by the Department of Forestry: Cordia alliodora (Spanish elm), Merremia peltata (mile a minute vine), and African tulip (Spathodea campanulata).

The approach brings together forest management tools, Land use assessments, geospatial mapping, community-led monitoring, and ecosystem restoration planning. In Vanuatu, forestry officers will be trained to systematically identify invasive plant species, adapt mapping tools to local conditions, and generate data that strengthens national decision-making.

Senior Forest Planning Officer, Department of Forestry and workshop participant, Mr Willie Lore, said the training highlighted the value of systematic data collection for informed decision-making.

Willie Lore

“In collaboration with the Vanuatu Government and SPC, we are conducting vital fieldwork to map the spread of invasive species. Each observation helps to safeguard Vanuatu’s unique biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of our native ecosystems. Mapping invasive species today means protecting Vanuatu’s biodiversity for tomorrow.”

The spread of Cordia alliodora has created monocultures that displace local hardwoods, while pests like the big-headed ant destabilise ecosystems by preying on pollinators and small invertebrates.

The workshop combined classroom and field work. Participants developed foundational skills in QGIS and QField for mobile data collection, then applied Digital Earth Pacific’s (DE Pacific) machine learning–based detection methods for invasive species to target surveys. DE Pacific delivers a public-good operational Earth and Ocean Observation System that leverages decades of satellite data, making it easier to access and use, empowering decision-makers across the Pacific.

Nature-Based Solutions Mainstreaming Advisor, SPC Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Division (CCES), Mr Ludovic Branlant, said the regional model is designed to create lasting change and support forest health in the Pacific.

 “This is not a one-off project. We are embedding the skills and tools within the forestry extension system, so that invasive species management becomes part of routine practice. That is how we scale Nature-based Solutions in ways that reflect Pacific science and realities.”

Ludovic Branlant

Practical mapping exercises at selected sites reinforced how geospatial tools, national datasets, and local knowledge combine to generate reliable, decision-ready information for forestry management and restoration planning.

The model is also an important demonstration of how SPC divisions collaborate to deliver systems-based solutions.

SPC’s Land Resources Division is providing technical forestry expertise. The Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division, Earth and Oceans Observations Programme at SPC is equipping officers with geospatial tools and training. The CCES Division is ensuring that the approach is aligned with national climate strategies and finance readiness.

This work builds on LRD’s Project “Developing and testing a forest management model to guide research and policy direction for effective forestry decision making”, under which the technical activities and model were developed. The project represents a technical collaboration between LRD and GEM.

Adi Loraini Baleilomaloma, Natural Resource Management Programme, SPC’s Land Resources Division, stated that the Division’s role has been the promotion of sustainable forest management tools that will support policy and decision-making initiatives for the governing of our natural resources.

“Through LRD, we are supporting Vanuatu to translate geospatial data into practical forest management actions. Our contribution is to ensure that communities and forestry officers can use these tools to manage forest resources, plan landscape restoration, select appropriate species and strengthen long-term forest resilience. It is about turning maps into management decisions that protect biodiversity and sustain livelihoods.”

By linking science, governance, and community needs, SPC is working to strengthen national systems so that solutions to invasive species last beyond the life of any single project.

Earth and Ocean Observation (EOO) Technical Officer, at SPC’s GEM Division, Elenoa Biukoto, said the initiative highlights the value of combining strengths across disciplines.

“By linking geospatial technology, forestry expertise, and local participation, we are demonstrating how regional science can directly strengthen national efforts to eradicate and control the spread of invasive trees within our native forests. This collaboration shows SPC at its best, bringing forestry, geospatial, and climate expertise together to deliver one solution.”

Fieldwork and model development will continue into early 2026, generating the country’s first localised invasive species mapping model. This will create a foundation for restoration planning, biodiversity protection, and climate adaptation, ensuring the outputs are integrated into Vanuatu’s Forest Policy and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Kevin Kauroi (Botany Officer and Conservative Officer), a participant expressed: "I would like to acknowledge the SPC team for facilitating this important training, I would think this training will help me in my field work as a Botany and conservative Officer, obtaining data and mapping of native and endemic species for the flora of each island in Vanuatu."

By joining Fiji and Tonga in this regional initiative, Vanuatu is not only strengthening its own resilience but also contributing to a shared Pacific effort to scale up Nature-based Solutions.

When science and local commitment come together, the result is more than data or policy; it is living forests that continue to shelter, feed, and sustain Pacific communities.