From 2 to 5 June 2026, the National Biodiversity Symposium took place in Luganville, Sanma Province, Vanuatu, bringing together Community Conservation Areas (CCAs), customary leaders, government agencies, provincial authorities, development partners and conservation practitioners. The event was part of a series of biennial protected area conferences under the Community Conservation Area Program led by the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC), Live and Learn Vanuatu (LLV) and related biodiversity projects, and formed part of the national celebration of Environment Week and World Environment Day.

The symposium followed a whole-of-community and whole-of-government approach, with discussions on biodiversity conservation, customary stewardship and the implementation of Vanuatu’s biodiversity commitments, including the Global Biodiversity Framework 30×30 Target. Through consultations involving DEPC, conservation networks, customary leaders and symposium participants, the national 30×30 implementation roadmap was renamed the National Tabu Eria Roadmap, better reflecting Vanuatu’s cultural context, customary governance systems and traditional approaches to conservation.

The Minister of Climate Change Adaptation officially launched the National Tabu Eria Network (NTEN), establishing a national platform for CCAs, customary leaders and conservation networks to strengthen collaboration on community-led conservation. Technical drafting support was provided for the network’s establishment, including preparation of the Committee Terms of Reference, which sets out governance structures, roles, responsibilities, membership arrangements and coordination mechanisms.

Agreement was reached to advance the National Tabu Eria Roadmap as a culturally grounded framework supporting implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework 30×30 Target. The Sanma Provincial Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was also launched, strengthening biodiversity planning and implementation at the provincial level.

The symposium provided strong recognition of customary governance and traditional knowledge as fundamental pillars of biodiversity conservation, with broad support for strengthening the legal recognition of Tabu Areas within national legislation. CCAs across Vanuatu showcased conservation achievements and lessons learned, highlighting successes in ecosystem restoration, species conservation, sustainable livelihoods and community stewardship. The event concluded with World Environment Day celebrations, including the launch of national initiatives, tree planting activities and public exhibitions, marking renewed commitments to protecting Vanuatu’s biodiversity for future generations.

Throughout the symposium, detailed records of discussions, recommendations, community concerns, lessons learned and proposed actions were documented, which will feed into the symposium proceedings and inform future policy, planning and implementation related to community conservation and biodiversity management.