|
Previous
Next
|
| Common Property Resource Management In Vanuatu - Perspectives From A Community |
|
Reference |
| Amanda Leathers, School of Earth Sciences Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand "Common Property Resource Management In Vanuatu - Perspectives From A Community", April 2008 |
|
Introduction to the Institution |
| The Tangoa resource area (TRA) is the area that Tangoa people use for their livelihoods, as well as for their subsistence and cash needs. Tangoa community, rural livelihoods across Vanuatu are inextricably linked to natural resources. Cooperation and respect for custom rules (Taboo) are the foundation for Tangoa’s commons management. The common property areas are governed by a customary governance regime which is a set of institutions, regulations and management practices which is subject to collective decision-making by Tangoan people, lead by Chiefly authority. |
|
Rules for Management
of the Institution |
|
(a) Boundary Rules |
| Social boundaries: Tangoa communitySpatial boundaries: Tangoa resource area (TRA), South Santo, Vanuatu. The Tangoa resource area (TRA) is the area that Tangoa people use for their livelihoods, as well as for their subsistence and cash needs. To the left of TRA, the boundary is met by the Hasavia people’s territory and to the right the TRA stops where church land starts. |
|
(b) Governance
rules |
| The common property areas are governed by a customary governance regime which is a set of institutions, regulations and management practices which is subject to collective decision-making by Tangoan people, lead by Chiefly authority. The Paramount Chief is the head decision maker in the community. His role is to make and enforce rules that determine access and use of common property resources, provide leadership and governance, resolve disputes, and manage community funds (e.g. aid/disaster relief). The Chief is supported in his role by the Council of Chiefs. The council is made up of the chiefs or leaders of each different clan, and representatives of different groups and committees such as a youth group, a women group, the Congregation Life Committee (church), an environment committee, and a development committee. |
|
(c) Resource Allocation |
| Anyone from the Tangoa community can harvest and use common property resources which include marine areas; rivers; water sources; dark-bush (forest areas); and water taro patches. Customary law and practice or ‘kastom’, forms the basis of group tenure and collective resource management. A vast amount of knowledge about how to use, manage, and monitor resources exists in custom stories, songs, and the unique local language. Taboos are rules that restrict resource use. They may determine when, where, and how resources can be used, and by whom. There are traditional management practices for soil conservation, conservation of certain species and ecologically sensitive areas, management of resource stocks, building habitats, and NRM practices for cyclone preparation |
|
Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| The Paramount Chief is responsible for resolving conflicts and disputes. However nowadays, increase in conflict and divisions within the community are key concerns, which are largely related to land issues. Increased stealing from gardens; people killing each other’s pigs; fighting in gardens; and trees and crops being cut down in acts of sabotage. Locally identified strategies to solve social cohesion problems include getting leaders and the community together in a process of communication, planning and action. |
|
Problems Faced by Institution |
| 1) Population growth causing stress on natural resources.2) Economic pressures which are driving an increase in the use of natural resources for money.3) Governance issues: Lack of rules to manage some resources; lack of respect for traditional rules such as customary taboos where they exist4) The issues mentioned above are causing environmental problems like forest degradation, Soil degradation, Degradation of marine and reshwater resources.5)The area of land available for Tangoans to use for gardens is limited, and the number of people using the land is increasing.6) Loss of traditional ecological knowledge |
|
Changes in the Institution over time |
| Local people have responded to economic pressures by: changing livelihood strategies (e.g. transition from gardening to cash based livelihoods); seeking alternative income generating opportunities (exit options) such as small businesses and tourism; accessing external assistance; and claiming for indigenous land rights. They have identified the need for skills building in trades such as carpentry, cooking and sewing. |
|
Purpose |
| To regulate and manage the use of common property resources |
|
Country |
| Vanautu |
|
Region |
| Tangoa resource area (TRA), South Santo, Vanuatu |
|
Date Of Publication |
| RS-04/2008 |
|
|
