Vanuatu Biodiversity Conservation Trust Fund: The first of its kind for vanuatu and for the pacific region.

The Minister responsible for Forestry, the Honourable John Morsen Willie, launched the Vanuatu Biodiversity Conservation Trust Fund on Tuesday 29 September 1998. This is a first of its kind in Vanuatu and in the Pacific Region.

The Vanuatu Biodiversity Conservation 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-politicises it and reduces the risk of any transferral of the Trust or of its funds for use other than the stated PURPOSE. It also gives the Fund credibility and security when seeking donations by showing that there is an 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 conservation. The Technical Advisory Board will be made up of representatives from Department of Forests, Environment Unit, Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Vanuatu Cultural Centre and from the Trustee

The Trust Fund already has its first project that is 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 conservation activities for Vanuatu.

You are invited to make a donation to support the work of the Trust Fund. Donations can be made by cheques, credit card or telegraphic transfer to the following account:

Westpac Banking Corporation
PO BOX 32
Port Vila
Vanuatu

For credit account of European Bank Limited Account number: 01-352756

Please mark your donation as:
Ref: Vanuatu Biodiversity Conservation Trust Fund

The People and forests of Vanuatu thank you for your contribution!

Contact Us:
Conservation Unit
Forestry Department
Ph: (678) 23171 / 23856
Fax: (678) 25051
E-mail: forestry@vanuatu.gov.vu