Vanuatu National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP) 2014 - 2020

Abstract

Vanuatu is a Y-shaped archipelago located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean at 13-20o S, 166o – 172o E. There is a distance of roughly 1,300 km from northernmost island to the southernmost. The country’s coastline extends for 2,528 km long and comprises over 80 islands with a total land area of 12,336 km2 , set within a 200- mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 680,000Km2 . Vanuatu’s islands are geologically young and were formed during the four main volcanic activity periods. The oldest islands are the Torres Group; this group of islands is part of the most northern province of TORBA. Santo the largest island in the SANMA province and Malekula, the larger island in the MALAMPA province, were formed over 22 million years ago. Pentecost and Maewo, islands are the PENAMA province are the second oldest, and were formed between 4 to 11 million years ago.