Information
on conservation in Vanuatu
VANUATU
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TRUST FUND: THE FIRST OF ITS
KIND FOR VANUATU AND FOR THE PACIFIC REGION.
CONSERVATION
UNIT
Forestry Department
Tel: (678) 23171/23856
Fax: (678) 25051
E- Mail: forestry@Vanuatu.gov.vu
The
Minister of Forestry in Vanuatu launched the Vanuatu
Biodiversity Conversation Trust Fund in September 1998.
The
Vanuatu Biodiversity Conversation Trust Fund has been
principally established to provide a continuous source
of financial assistance for the retention of forests
in Vanuatu and related biological conservation.
The
Trustee, in this case Pacific International Trust Company
Ltd will manage the Trust Fund. The Trustee will answer
to a board of Appointors who will act as an independent
body to monitor the performance of the nominated Trustee,
which is Pacific International Trust Company Ltd. (PITCO).
The Appointors will have the power to remove and replace
the Trustee. This is an important factor for the security
of the Trust Fund, as it de-politicizes it and reduces
the risk of any transferral of the Trust or of its Funds
for use other than the Start PURPOSE. It also gives
the Fund credibility and security when seeking donations
by showing that there is and independent "watch
dog" body
The
Appointors will not be involved in advising the Trustee
on use of the funds relating to the PURPOSE of the Trust
Fund. A Technical Advisory Board will be established
to advise the Trustees on matters relating to the running
of the Trust Fund with respect to individual projects
and use of funds for the retention of forests in Vanuatu
and related biological conversation. The Technical Advisory
Board will be made up of representatives from Department
of Forests, Enviroment Unit, Malvatumauri National Council
of Chiefs Vanuatu Cultural Centre and from the Trustee.
The Trust Fund already has its first project that this
the funding of the lease for a National Forest Reserve,
the Erromango Kauri Reserve, 3202 ha of forest of regional
importance on the Island of Erromango. The Trust will
start with this small forest project focus but its long
term vision for the future is to see the Trust Fund
support all forest and related biological conversation
activities of Vanuatu.
Contact:
CONSERVATION
UNIT
Forestry Department
Tel: (678) 23171/23856
Fax: (678) 25051
E- Mail:
forestry@Vanuatu.gov.vu
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