Following Bibingo Play, under a broader Erakor Bridge childrens\u2019 initiative The Voice of Erakor Lagoons, the Chiefs, Youth and Pikinini of Seaside accompanied more than 50 volunteers of Erakor Village and implemented a major clean up. 10 June 2022 \u2013 Students of University of South Pacific and National University of Vanuatu learn about the community activism of Erakor Bridge Community to Save the Erakor Lagoon and visit the community 22 September 2022 \u2013 Chief of Solwota request support of Businesses, Communities and Authorities to Save the Erakor Lagoons and participation in the International Costal Clean up Unfortunately that didn\u2019t happen and illegal waste were being disposed at same time as the International Coastal Clean up activity.<\/p>\n
Tokyo community receptive to join Restoration Plan of the Erakor Lagoons and attempt to improve the community waste management system. 21 May 2022 \u2013 Meeting with Tokyo Community to prepare an awareness on the Erakor Lagoons Restoration Plan, community cleanup and Bibingo Play Over 70 volunteers from Erakor crossed over the Lagoon by boat and transport provided by the Vanuatu Police Force and join more than 150 people and leaders from seaside to carry a significant clean up with support of the Plan\u2019s partners Port Vila Municipality, volunteers from Vanuatu Climate Action Network and Vanuatu Environmental Science Society.<\/p>\n
SPREP representatives sad that it is very important to collect data, for decision making on Waste Management. Mele communities participation was suggested as waste management is not in place and rivers are used to dispose waste. Erakor Chief of Solwota said that it as already provided the Erakor Lagoons Restoration Plan and that would appreciate any support from Authorities. Waiting State Law Office; No expected data given to be reviewed. Town Clerk supported the initiative and granted exemption of fee to use Sea Front park and offer escort of Municipal Police to the Parade to be coordinated with Vanuatu Police Force which already are partners of the event.<\/p>\n
The Community of Erakor has been working hard for many years to ensure that the Lagoon is kept clean and beautiful to be able to receive attract tourists and economic activity for communities. Assist communities to initiate clean ups provide assistance on finding partnerships to dispose rubbish that is currently at the margins on the Lagoons in Etas landfill. Erakor is collecting data with a free app named TRASHOUT.<\/p>\n
Once is approved, it will serve as an instrument to inform all stakeholders (residents, businesses representatives, local, provincial, and national public authorities) on what the Council of Chiefs expect from them, to make possible the implementation of the plan in a cooperatively manner. This draft plan is an Erakor Paramount Chief tool to be discussed, improved, and reviewed by the Council of Chiefs. Chief of Solwota committed to re-connect with each participant, get digital contacts to send the plan, discuss further with each stakeholder and volunteer the nature of their inputs \/ contributions to the plan, and means of implementation. The participants got a copy of the plan (limited to 10 participants, as there was not enough copies). Chief Marik Woute presented the objectives of the plan and activities. Agreed to make a Erakor Council of Chiefs brief\/presentation, (with lawyer Lee-Anne) on the environmental and planning regulations around the Lagoon.<\/p>\n
Restauration of the margins, Plant Mangroves; Sea grass, Sea Cucumber, Oysters, planting of fruit trees, community beautification projects Building of nets to filter drainages water\/outlets, engagement with chiefs and youth to main the nets and collect solid waste; Stop immediately fluids from hospital wastewater plant into Lagoon and find temporary solution until waste water plant is proven to be safe for environment and public health Follow up on efforts from polluters to eradicate any form of pollution to lagoons<\/p>\n
The day ended with a debriefing on the clean up, next steps over lunch provided by 2 hotels located on the Lagoon Warwick the Lagoon and Poppies on the Lagoon. 120 yellow municipality plastic bags of 70 litres full of solid waste were removed from the margins of the Lagoon and transported to the Municipal Landfill. Following a theatre drama played by the Natonton theatre group in 20 May \u2013 Bibingo The Voice of Erakor Lagoons the Community of Seaside determined June 4 as the date for a extensive clean up on the hills from the Hospital towards the Erakor numbawan Lagoon. On the implementation of the plan, phase 1 STOP pollution, the Seaside (Futuna, Tongoa, Paama, Police and Legan) communities agreed to engage with the Lagoons Restoration Plan. This open plan, in consultation, is not funded and welcomes partnerships and contributions from stakeholders (communities, authorities and businesses and NGO\u2019s).<\/p>\n
Restauration of the margins, Plant Mangroves; Sea grass, Sea Cucumber, planting of fruit trees, community beautification projects, The Erakor Salwota chief, assisted by a nominated team will collect data from all stakeholders on the progress of the activities and will provide monthly reports on the plan and suggest possible adjustments. All participants presented themselves and express the willing to engage with the plan and support its implementation. Erakor Bridge Community (James Taho) \u2013 suggested that a more detailed plan should be developed to guide community inputs Erakor informed that there are already an extensive investment in studies and collection of data and very little improvement on waste management systems.<\/p>\n
Build of 4 rafts \/ floating stages; Organisation of youth groups and divers to clean the bottom of both Lagoons (8.5 Km from Club Hippique to Erakor island); Promotion of healthy kakae, back yard gardens, vertical gardens, fruit trees planting, beautification, agroforestry, permaculture, mangrove seedling for replantation, aquaculture, tilapia, aquaponics, nature-based solutions to improve air and water quality Identification of urban development projects and pig farms which may be a risk to the safety of the lagoon, dumping and construction sites in the margins of the Lagoons. Identification of solid and waster water sources of pollution<\/p>\n
Erakor indigenous communities have been vocal an active to protect the Lagoons, organising clean ups and mangrove plantations and awareness activities. There is a draft of a detailed activity plan (goal \/ phase of the plan, activities, indicator, targets, timeframe and responsibility). It is important to note the order of the objectives which determine the sequence of immediate priorities and activities of the plan. 25 May 2024 is a major reference date for the completion of this plan, as is the end of a period of 5 years of a fishing ban declared by the Erakor Paramount Chief on the 25th May 2019. The Land and Salwota Chiefs will then accommodating reasons to improve the plan and seek further review and approval by the Council of Chiefs, who will be regularly monitoring the plan\u2019s implementation, reported and up-date it.<\/p>\n
Initiate a stock take of the pollution hotspots, along with the chiefs, and exercise DWR authority to enforce Vanuatu\u2019s legislation and by laws inform those who are responsible for pollution to stop. Department of Water Resources \u2013 follow up the government decision to ban swimming and fishing in support of the Chiefs decision of 25 May 2019. Resident Michel Liliard \u2013 has ICT Geographic Information Systems background and is willing to provide support the stock take of all pollution hotspots in the Erakor Lagoons; Teach Chiefs to store GPS location with photos during the stock take and compile a GIS identification of sites for monitoring Agreed to make a Erakor Council of Chiefs brief\/presentation, (with urban planner Shinji Mehta) on the environmental and planning regulations around the Lagoon.<\/p>\n