The Erakor community is deeply grateful to the Erakor Lagoon. After thousands of years of sustaining the community, the lagoon is now, more than ever, at the centre of a united and determined effort to protect it.
The fishing ban, established by the Council of Chiefs in 2019 to protect fish populations, remains in place. Despite the community’s self-sacrifice and commitment to forgo access to an important source of livelihood, thousands of fish died in early 2021. Authorities responded by stating that there was no available budget. In response, the community took action—self-funding water analysis, which made it evident that pollution was destroying both the ecosystem and people’s livelihoods.
Multiple grassroots groups with focus on Environment (Eraso Nafsan Association – Nurturing Our Environment, Erakor Bridge Environment and Wellbeing Committee, The Erakor Bridge Environmental Fighters, The Ekoftau Environmental and Wellbeing Association, The Erakor Bridge Youth Revolution Association, 431 Environmental Network, Vanuatu Clean (previously Say no to Plastic Bags) popped in along Erakor. Women’s groups producing and selling flowers and local products and the Council of Chiefs have consistently remained determined to defend the lagoon, including exploring legal avenues if necessary.
A petition was launched, gathering more than 1,300 signatures both online and on paper. Various legal actions were considered to address the lack of response from multiple authorities. Many letters were written to the authorities along the years, despite of the lack of responses.
We understand that governments are busy—there are many high-level meetings to attend and many donors to engage. Communities are often called upon to host officials through social programs, and we take these opportunities seriously, using them to build stronger alliances and gain more supporters for the Erakor Lagoon.
Businesses, too, are focused on sustaining profits. At times, they may perceive communities as potential obstacles—unless there is an opportunity for visible sponsorship, where supporting people and nature enhances their public image.
Yet communities are not an abstract concept—they are the foundation of society. They need to survive: to breathe clean air, to swim in clean water, and to eat safe, healthy food. In reality, we are all part of the same community—politicians, public servants, business owners, and workers alike.
We believe that anyone who appreciates the beauty of the Erakor Lagoon is, in some way, part of the Erakor community. If that is true for you, we invite you to stand with us—please sign the petition.
Despite the visible impacts of global crises on daily life—including rising living costs, social media distractions, divisive narratives, climate denial, consumerism, and business interests reinforcing a narrow view of development focused on economic growth—the Erakor community has remained steadfast. These groups have consistently acted as “The Voice of Erakor Lagoon”, actively defending its unique ecosystem over the past decades.
Resilience is not just about strength or resourcefulness—it is about consistency, and the determination to never give up.
In 2024 all the grassroots groups got together in a memorable demonstration.
This consistent approach has generated tangible benefits—not only for the Erakor community and its lagoon, but for the nation as a whole.
In 2014, the Government of Japan funded the refurbishment of several hospital buildings and provided a wastewater treatment solution for the Port Vila Central Hospital.
The community was happy but suddenly when realized that the system was never fully used: roughly half of the hospital buildings were not connected to the new wastewater treatment plant, which had been designed as a comprehensive and long-term solution for the full hospital as explained by the Japanese Ambassador to the Erakor Council of Chiefs.
A significant portion of wastewater continued unnecessarily to be discharged through a dysfunctional system for more than 12 years.
The hospital will now have two wastewater treatment plants to maintain, and—if the current works are successfully completed—wastewater discharge into the lagoon should finally cease. This would bring an end to approximately 40 years of avoidable and unlawful pollution. There is also hope that the hospital will soon operate with a fully functional and properly reviewed sanitation system, including the connection of all building pipelines.
What was initially considered a relatively simple and low-cost intervention—estimated at 28 million Vatu. This amount escalated twice, to eventually 103 million Vatu for the State. It is unknown if the Hospital has the capacity to maintain two different waste water treatment plants in the future.
Through this experience, of being alert and proactive to defend the Lagoon, the community has come to understand that protecting the environment requires direct action. They can no longer rely on “the system” to safeguard it on their behalf—they must take responsibility into their own hands.
Another learning was that it is important to register and share our stories and make it know to each other and to the World. This allowed us to be recognised internationally and being regularly contacted by multiple people and organizations from other countries: scientists, researchers, journalists, environmental activists, universities, environmental organizations, etc.
Our stories matter not only to us but to others. Inspire other communities, keep is motivated despite of the challenges, promote exchange of information and experiences, help us to seek expert advice, recognise our limitation, learn from others and cooperate assisting us to be more professional on what we do, despite of us being simply volunteers.
Our stories are available across multiple social media pages from the various Erakor grassroots environmental groups.
This allowed us to keep establishing relationships with a growing number people and organizations, make us feel stronger, despite our limitations, while we all build a cooperative multinational family of the Erakor Lagoon, while promoting community cooperation and unity and social cohesion.
The third week of April 2026 was a good example of how busy—and productive—this work can be, with important achievements for both the Erakor community and our international partners.
On Monday, we met with Noelle van der Straaten, a marine biologist who worked in Vanuatu 15 years ago with the small NGO OceansWatch. She was impressed by Vanuatu’s initiatives to ban single-use plastics and reached out to us through the Vanuatu Clean Blog.
She visited Erakor to meet the community and had the opportunity to hear, first-hand, from an active community that has supported the government’s plastic ban. Noelle is now keen to share Vanuatu’s story in Belgium, helping to raise awareness about plastic pollution and the importance of environmental activism.
Tuesday was a day dedicated to planning, with many exchanges of text messages and phone calls between us. Communication is not always easy—many people cannot afford phone credit or internet access, and phones often ring without answer. People face competing priorities, family, community and religious commitments, as they navigate challenging daily realities. One of our chiefs was sick and injured by a string cutter while cleaning the Bridge. Active children of Bibingo of our activist Natongtong theatre group were running around houses passing messages between community members in the country and overseas.
Planning events at short notice can be stressful. Many are busy, but fortunately, there is a strong network built on trust and friendship. For the common good of the Erakor Lagoon and our environment, there is always someone ready to step in when others are unavailable.
The fight to save the Erakor Lagoon is not easy, but its beauty keeps us motivated. When the work becomes complex, the “Spirit of Solwota” comes alive—transforming individual struggles into a shared sense of purpose and even enjoyment. It reflects a deep sense of duty to play our part for the future of our children.
The Lagoon has been the main power of the Erakor community.
On Wednesday at 6:30 a.m., we organised an online meeting with our legal advisers, Ocean Legal Vision, who are supporting us since 2025 (extract to their 2025 Report below) in exploring available legal pathways to help the Erakor community protect the lagoon.
Unfortunately, unsettled weather conditions following the passage of Cyclone Vaianu made the meeting impossible due to power and internet outages—likely intensified by broader climate-related impacts across the region, including New Zealand.
As a result, we had to rely on intermittent email communication to seek guidance for the newly established Erakor Marine Management Committee, which brings together community representatives, elected local leaders, and the Council of Chiefs.
On Thursday, we participated in a CLIMATE TALKS event focused on climate finance and community support, alongside representatives from the Government of Vanuatu, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), and major global climate funds such as the Global Environment Facility, the Adaptation Fund, and the Global Green Growth Institute.
Through these discussions, we realised how complex—and often inaccessible—these funding mechanisms remain for communities. Despite this, we did not lose our focus or determination to save the lagoon, with or without external funding.
In fact, the relentless pursuit of financial gain is, in many ways, one of the root causes of the lagoon’s current condition—driving the degradation of ecosystems in the name of profit.
On Friday, our efforts were divided between a meeting with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and assist our friends of the Vanuatu Climate Action Network in a visit by the CEO of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) to the Erakor Community and the Lagoon.
On Saturday morning, we welcomed the United Nations Special Rapporteur and her team to the Erakor Lagoon. This visit provided an opportunity to showcase tangible progress in mangrove restoration, while also sharing the ongoing challenges of lagoon pollution and its impacts on both the community and the natural environment—particularly in the context of the human right to a clean and healthy environment.
We are a collective of committed leaders from many grassroots groups, representing all generations—students, workers, those seeking employment, mothers, grandparents, and tribal chiefs. We are not always available at the same time, but we come together when it matters most to stand for the lagoon.
We also recognise the need to strengthen and expand this network. More community members must be supported to step forward, and others from the broader society—authorities, businesses, and donors—must stand alongside us. Only through this shared responsibility can the lagoon be restored, allowing everyone to benefit from a clean, healthy environment and a thriving community.
Stories like this matter. They highlight the importance of consistent community action over decades, helping us connect our efforts and understand the strength of our collective commitment. They show how we remain flexible yet determined in pursuing our shared vision: Saving the Erakor Lagoon.
What is the value of a mango tree?
How many generations can be fed by its fruit, shaded by its branches, sustained by its presence?
Yet we cut it down—to widen a road that will only ease traffic for a few years.
We call it development.
As a society, we react quickly when private property is damaged. We call it vandalism.
But when our shared natural assets are destroyed, we remain indifferent—and call it progress.
The lagoon has always provided for us—past, present, and future.
Erakor Lagoon is not only vital for the people of Erakor; it is a critical breeding ground for Efate, connected to the wider Pacific Ocean—the largest ecosystem on Earth.
You may be busy—running your business, working hard to pay for your car and rising fuel costs, or supporting leaders seeking development opportunities abroad.
But deep down, you know this:
Erakor Lagoon matters.
And now, you have a choice.
Be part of a broader community movement.
Stand up. Speak out.
Be the Voice of the Erakor Lagoon and contribute for the Erakor Lagoon Restoration Plan
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