Quantifying carbon benefits from protecting and restoring tropical forest landuse mosaics in Vanuatu
- 1Moana Conservation, 9a Hayley Grove, Papamoa Beach, New Zealand
- 2Tearfund New Zealand, 64 C Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill, Auckland, 1041 New Zealand
- 3Nasituan, Imanaka Road, Tanna, Vanuatu
Abstract
Background: Forest loss and degradation in Vanuatu is a pertinent environmental issue, particularly for rural communities who are inherently reliant on subsistence-based agriculture derived from tropical forest landuse mosaics. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) projects provide a mechanism to diversify agricultural livelihoods while reducing deforestation and forest degradation and promoting ecosystem restoration. This study evaluates the Life & Land Project, a PES initiative working with communities at Whitegrass and Middlebush on Tanna, and South River on Erromango. Few primary studies in Vanuatu have quantified forest carbon stocks or evaluated changes in carbon stocks resulting from PES interventions.
Research objectives and methods: These knowledge gaps are addressed by assessing: (a) forest carbon stocks and structural characteristics; (b) the drivers and rates of deforestation and forest degradation, together with pressures affecting forest health, to inform management interventions; and (c) the potential carbon benefits of implementing these interventions using a gain—loss approach.
Results: Results showed high variability in structural composition and carbon stocks, reflective of differences in landuse and environmental pressures. The mature, predominantly primary tropical rainforest at Whitegrass had an average carbon stock of 490.7 ± 32.6 Mg C ha−1, in contrast to the invasive vine-smothered degraded forests of Imanaka Creek (Middlebush) and the Forest Enhancement Zone of South River (107.3 ± 10.7 Mg C ha−1 and 128.2 ± 22.7 Mg C ha−1 respectively). Forest loss at Whitegrass was driven through logging, ad-hoc garden development, and quarry operations at an estimated rate of 3.55 ha−1 year−1, while invasive vines were the main impediment impacting forest health at most sites. To address pressures, a conservation area at Whitegrass (Forest Protection) was established with community developed and enforced by-laws, while Forest Restoration and Improved Forest Management interventions involved undertaking vine clearance, maintenance, and replanting with a mix of agro-forestry and native species (all sites). Overall carbon benefits are estimated at 6,688 Mg CO2e year−1.
Conclusions: The study helps Vanuatu and other Small Island Developing States, particularly those of the South Pacific, strengthen the platform from which other PES projects could be developed and implemented.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-026-00505-6.
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BibTeX
@article{cameron2026quantifying,
title = {{Quantifying carbon benefits from protecting and restoring tropical forest landuse mosaics in Vanuatu}},
author = {Clint Cameron and Olivia Bird and Jeffery Lava and Andrew Finaly},
journal = {Carbon Balance and Management},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1186/s13021-026-00505-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-026-00505-6},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Quantifying carbon benefits from protecting and restoring tropical forest landuse mosaics in Vanuatu
AU - Clint Cameron
AU - Olivia Bird
AU - Jeffery Lava
AU - Andrew Finaly
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/21
JO - Carbon Balance and Management
DO - 10.1186/s13021-026-00505-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-026-00505-6
AB - Background: Forest loss and degradation in Vanuatu is a pertinent environmental issue, particularly for rural communities who are inherently reliant on subsistence-based agriculture derived from tropical forest landuse mosaics. Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) projects provide a mechanism to diversify agricultural livelihoods while reducing deforestation and forest degradation and promoting ecosystem restoration. This study evaluates the Life & Land Project, a PES initiative working with communities at Whitegrass and Middlebush on Tanna, and South River on Erromango. Few primary studies in Vanuatu have quantified forest carbon stocks or evaluated changes in carbon stocks resulting from PES interventions. Research objectives and methods: These knowledge gaps are addressed by assessing: (a) forest carbon stocks and structural characteristics; (b) the drivers and rates of deforestation and forest degradation, together with pressures affecting forest health, to inform management interventions; and (c) the potential carbon benefits of implementing these interventions using a gain—loss approach. Results: Results showed high variability in structural composition and carbon stocks, reflective of differences in landuse and environmental pressures. The mature, predominantly primary tropical rainforest at Whitegrass had an average carbon stock of 490.7 ± 32.6 Mg C ha−1, in contrast to the invasive vine-smothered degraded forests of Imanaka Creek (Middlebush) and the Forest Enhancement Zone of South River (107.3 ± 10.7 Mg C ha−1 and 128.2 ± 22.7 Mg C ha−1 respectively). Forest loss at Whitegrass was driven through logging, ad-hoc garden development, and quarry operations at an estimated rate of 3.55 ha−1 year−1, while invasive vines were the main impediment impacting forest health at most sites. To address pressures, a conservation area at Whitegrass (Forest Protection) was established with community developed and enforced by-laws, while Forest Restoration and Improved Forest Management interventions involved undertaking vine clearance, maintenance, and replanting with a mix of agro-forestry and native species (all sites). Overall carbon benefits are estimated at 6,688 Mg CO2e year−1. Conclusions: The study helps Vanuatu and other Small Island Developing States, particularly those of the South Pacific, strengthen the platform from which other PES projects could be developed and implemented. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-026-00505-6.
SN - 1750-0680
ER -