In North Efate, the project established the North Efate Conservation Trust, following a feasibility study of economic and financial mechanisms. This trust is a partnership between local communities associations, the provincial tourism authority and Live and Learn Vanuatu to fund integrated coastal management activities such as coral replanting, waste management or enhancement of local protected areas. The source of funding is a voluntary 10% conservation levy on accommodation and tourism activities, generating an estimated EUR 9,000 per year.
RESCCUE provided EUR 90,000 of seed funding to the Trust, which will be used over the next few years to start collecting the levy and managing the fund, while conducting tangible activities to demonstrate tourists what their contributions will be used for.
Tasi Vanua Resource centre, North Efate (©SPC)