Quantifying carbon benefits from protecting and restoring tropical forests and agro-forestry landscapes in Vanuatu

Background Vanuatu is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters, with rural populations inherently reliant on subsistence-based agricultural livelihoods increasingly affected. Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) projects are touted as one mechanism that can help diversify livelihoods, develop climate resilient agricultural production systems, and ensure rural communities are better equipped to mitigate the effects of climate change and natural disasters. This study reports on the Life & Land Project , a PES initiative in Vanuatu which works with the communities of South River on Erromango, and Whitegrass and Middlebush on Tanna. Research was focused on assessing community structure, baseline carbon stocks of forest and agroforestry sites, and the drivers and rates of deforestation and/or forest degradation using remote sensing analysis coupled with ground truthing. Appropriate responses to factors impacting forest health were developed as Forest Protection , Forest Restoration , and Improved Forest Management interventions, and potential project-derived carbon benefits estimated. Results Results showed high variability in structural composition and forest carbon stocks between sites, reflective of differences in landuse, landcover, and environmental pressures. The mature, healthy, predominantly primary tropical rainforest of Whitegrass had an average carbon stock of 490.7 ± 32.6 Mg C ha ^− 1 , in marked contrast to the invasive vine-smothered degraded forests of Imanaka Creek (Middlebush) and the Forest Enhancement Zone of South River (106.7 ± 10.7 Mg C ha ^− 1 and 128.2 ± 22.7 Mg C ha ^− 1 respectively). Deforestation and forest degradation at Whitegrass was driven through clear-fell logging, ad-hoc garden development, and quarry operations, while invasive vines were the main ecological issue impeding forest health at most sites. Options to address pressures included establishing a Community Conservation Area at Whitegrass ( Forest Protection ) with community developed and enforced by-laws, and undertaking vine clearance, maintenance, and replanting for Forest Restoration and Improved Forest Management interventions. Overall carbon benefits are estimated at 6,675 Mg CO ₂ e ha ^− 1 year ^− 1 . Conclusions The study helps Vanuatu and other Small Island Developing States, particularly those of the South Pacific, solidify the platform and evidence base from which other PES projects could be developed.