Tree planting is one of the key activities to address climate change during the Public Service Commission (PSC) Day held recently in Tanna.

Head of Communications at the Department of Climate Change, Olivia Finao, said one of the major activities is tree planting to address coastal erosion, as well as the launching of a community notice board in Lowanatom.

She said the notice boards also include a seasonal crop calendar specific to Tafea Province.

“The notice board contains the seasonal crop calendar for Tafea Province, with information on hot and rainy seasons, and the right time to plant or harvest crops like breadfruit. There are also local indicators included. These notice boards are installed on community houses so that members or visitors can read the information at any time,” Mrs Finao explained.

Another key activity promoted during the day was food preservation, which Mrs Finao says is a vital part of disaster preparedness.

“Different types of food were collected from the market, dried, and packaged in bottles or plastic. We demonstrated how to preserve food, especially in times of disaster—like the ongoing volcanic activity that is damaging gardens in places like Whitesands in Tanna. Food preparation and preservation are some of the best practices for maintaining food security after a disaster,” she said.

The Department of Climate Change organized these activities under various project components in areas supported by the Vanuatu Coastal Adaptation Project (VCCRP).