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The capacity of the Loru Environment Centre to support other conservation
projects in Vanuatu is limited by skills and experience of Loru
Protected Area Committee (LoPAC), which were gained largely during
the setting up of the Loru Rainforest Protected Area. With increasing
demands being placed on LoPAC in the management of the Protected
Area and the operation of the Environment Centre, LoPAC has realised
that additional skills and experience are now needed in order to
move the project forward.
The
current project has been jointly devised by VPAI and LoPAC to
help meet these demands and is being undertaken as is part of
a broader initiative to provide support to conservation projects
in Vanuatu. Its primary aim is to build the capacity of the Loru
project through the following:
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By
increasing the skill-base and environmental knowledge of LoPAC
to help them manage the environment centre more effectively
and carryout associated activities. This will be achieved
through a series of workshops/courses covering project funding,
accounting and reporting, workshop techniques, land use planning
and basic island conservation theory and practice.
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By
realising opportunities for LoPAC members to gain relevant
field experience of conservation projects and issues in Vanuatu
with experienced fieldworkers. This will involve field visits
to selected conservation projects that have requested outside
assistance and areas that are experiencing particular environmental
challenges.
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By
developing new environmental materials, plays and activities
for use at the environment centre. This will including developing
a play with Loru's environmental theatre group "Narabul
Theatre" on coconut crab awareness and conservation on
Santo (which is particularly important at the present time
because of the over harvesting that has been taking place)
and producing materials for school visits to the environment
centre inline with the national curriculum.
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By
building a protected area self-support network linking the
various projects around Vanuatu through the environment centre.
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By
promoting the centre and establishing a recognised point of
contact. This will primarily be achieved through radio and
newspaper exposure, service messages and the distribution
of Loru posters.
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