Leasing in Vanuatu : Findings and Community Dissemination on Epi Island

Under the Vanuatu constitution, the
'rules of custom shall form the basis of ownership and
use of land.' Implementing this principle after decades
of land alienation, however, has proved to be challenging.
While the leasing arrangement was originally intended to
restore investor confidence and maintain agricultural
development in newly independent Vanuatu, it soon evolved
into the method of acquiring new leases over previously
unalienated land. Tourism, business, agriculture, industry,
urbanization, and the desire to use land to secure financial
loans are some of the driving forces behind the creation of
leases. This briefing note summarizes the findings of the
research conducted on Epi Island and discusses methodologies
for disseminating research findings to affected communities.