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The Government of Vanuatu approached SPREP in 2001 to consider providing technical and advisory assistance in assessing the aggregated issues of land use change, rural development, catchment management and cumulative infrastructure and coastal degradation in the Mele catchment, immediately northwest of the municipality of Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu. This request was formalized in early 2002 as part of a SPREP Sustainable Economic Development Division, country visit. The request was of interest to SPREP as it was consistent with the programme objectives of its Integrating Environment and Development key focus area and the Integrated Assessment and Planning project under this programme component. Corresponding with the early case study design the Nadi High Level Ministerial Meeting on Financing the Environment (Adaptation – May 2002), called for practical case studies to address nominated barriers to sustainable development. At that same meeting the ADB communicated its intention to produce the Pacific Regional Environment Strategy (PRES) to guide its strategic direction and assistance in the region for the 2005–2009 period. This strategy would utilize a number of case studies to draw out best practices and lessons to be addressed in the PRES.

The Government of Vanuatu approached SPREP in 2001 to consider providing technical and advisory assistance in assessing the aggregated issues of land use change, rural development, catchment management and cumulative infrastructure and coastal degradation in the Mele catchment, immediately northwest of the municipality of Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu.