Garet (Gaua island, 1.500 habitants)
The entire island of Gaua is dominated by the volcano (caldera) Mt. Garet. To all sides, the flanks of the volcano (caldera) immediately fall down to the sea. The flanks are as well carved by deep drainages and canyons. So what ever leaves the caldera (or the crater lake named Letas) with a volcanic eruption, will reach the costal areas and villages with no doubt and propably with fatal results. This circumstances make Mt. Garet (last notable eruption 1982) one of the most dangerous volcanoes of Vanuatu. High amounts of yearly rainfall are a threat for common erosion as well. It means, that the soils protecting forests should be preserved very well. Somehow a conflict with economic progress on the island in these days (see article below).Because of the geological morphology of the caldera, the most hazardous areas are to the northwest.
The few settlements on Gaua are all on the coastal lowland or right at the seaside. The only airfield is in the northeast near Aver. A quite well mentained dirt track goes form Masevono (north), via Losalava, Aver, Teuvrat, Lambal to Kweteon. The track continues to Makeone in the south, but we don't know the conditions of the track. On the west coast, a track (unknown conditions) goes from Kwetegaweg to Pwetevut. In the middle, a known safe anchor is off shore the settlement of Ontar. As well Kaska Bay (east coast) is known to be a safe anchor site. Some Pick up trucks and old road mentain vehicles exist on the island.

Aoba (Ambae island, 10.000 habitants)
A professional hazard paper exist for Ambae island. So, our information are only additional. As we know from the physical morphology of the island, the central area of Ambae is the most dangerous on, because bigger explosive eruptions can cause lahars (mudflows) in a sudden. The lahars could be a result of rainfalls triggert by eruptions or because of water being blown out of the crater lakes of Aoba volcano by explosive activity. The outburst of lava on the outer flanks of the volcano are possible but usually do give anought time to evacuate dangered areas. Anyway, many villages could be effected by explosive volcanic hazards and this could last for quite a long time.
Local settlements are all around the volcano. Most of these villages do have 4-wheel-drive roads but during rain this roads may be out of use. The dustroads along the north coast (only) on Ambae is quite ok, but there are not much transport means for habitants and goods. This road might be cut off by eruptions. The evecuation runs usually by ship via Ndui Ndui (northern shore) or from the safer anchor at the notheast part of the island. Beside the Walaha airfield (the safe westend of the island), Laongana airfield is a hop off point for rescue in the east of Ambae.

Ambrym (Ambrym island, 8.500 habitants)
A very good volcanic hazard map (paper) by Michel Monzier and Claude Robin (ORSTOM 1996) exsist for Ambrym island. The shield volcano if Ambrym has a dense jungle vegetation around a central caldera. Whenever flank eruptions occure, enough time for evacuation should be no problem. The major threat is certainly acid fall-out (a mixture of ash and acid rain) which can last as long as an eruption goes. This can be up to month. If this acid fall-out poisens the water supply of local habitants, a big logistic problem occures quite in a sudden. If the acid fall-out destroys further on food plants and if it poisons (kills) farm animals such as pigs, chicken and cows, a desaster concering foodsupply for residents can be realy serious. The only way to help locals is with evacuations of the threatened parts of the island.
Food aid and other supply could be entered by the airfields of Craig Crove (westend of the island) and Ulei (southeast of the island). But for longer lasting help-programs, ships have to bring in supply with the safe harbors of Craig Crove and along the northern shore. A rough dust road winds along the southern shore. This road is good for evacuation, though trucks are short in this area. Locals told us that there are about 5 trucks to serve this road, which aren't enough to do efficient evacuation or help. In the north of the island we have the same situation concerning transport. If a bigger evacuation of the island should be necessary, ships from other part of the country are needed.

Lopevi (Epi island, 4.500 habitants; Paama island, 2.000 habitants)
The volcano Lopevi is about 14 km northeast of Epi island and only 5 km east of Paama island. The island is unhabitated since 1960 so we look at hazards only fot the nearby island. In case that a big explosiv eruption occures or that a part oft the steep strato volcano slides into the sea, Tsunamis can hit the islands of Paama, Epi and Ambrym very, very hard. The hole eastcoast of Paama will be effected. Ambrym will be hit at the south east tip of the island. We don't know how this will effect the habitians oft this two islands. But we know, that Epi will be severe effected on its hole eastcoast by any Tsunami. Some villages along the caost are close to the waterfront found on low altitude. The dust raod along the coast would be partly destroyed by a Tsunami so that help would be difficult to be carried out. The one lane road is in a quite good condition. In 2006 we have counted about 8 pick up trucks giving service on that particular raod and the hole island itself. This is not al lot any help can count on.
But not only Lopevi volcano can cause problems, as well the submarine volcano 2 km offshore of Epi (at Mt. Nitaia) and the submarine volcano Kuwae near Tefala island can especially trigger Tsunamis, but as well any other volcanic threat. The logistic base (gate) for any aid on Epi island would be the airfields of Lamen Bay (at the safer northwestern end of the island) and Valesdir 27 km south of Lamen Bay.

Yasur (Tanna island, 21.000 habitants)
The volcano Yasur is monitored by local volcanologists. Implaced are three levels of volcanic hazard to give help how locals and visitiors should react on volcanic activity. The airfield of White Grass has a paved runway and is called "Tanna international airport". This makes it an ideal entry gate for any help. The road toward the east of the island and around the active volcano Yasur is a quite good, but partly a steep track. From the village Yaneumakel, anticlockwise around Yasur volcano as far as Port Resolution, the road goes along the foot of the 400 m high volcano Yasur. With big eruptions - security level 3 - this part of the road is threaten by the volcano. Some villagers towards the mountain of Tokusmera will be cut off by transport. Here we couned on some hundreds of habitants in 8/2006. The Port Resolution area will be cut off too of course.
In general, transport-logistics on Tanna island are plenty enough, but if bigger eruptions last long, this above mentioned problems and the cut off with supply for villagers will not be solved via the road around the volcano. So evacuation will be essential. A difficult story in terms of local politics and fincanial support.

We the undersigned citizens and residents of Gaua would like to express our concern with respect to the work that is taking place on the slopes above Siriti village. The proposed cattle project currently raises three areas of concern: legal, environmental, as well as social.
To our knowledge there are several steps that must be taken before the government can properly approve of a development initiative within it's borders. At the national level, investors must pass through the Environment Unit and perform an "Environment Impact assessment". At the provincial level the investor must gain the approval from the office of the provincial secretary general and the provincial planner.
Furthermore the investor in question must have an approval from the Island Council of Chiefs at the local level. And if it's true, that tourism is to be involved within the project scheme, then it is important that the investor passes through the Torba Tourism Association. However, currently, we can find no proof that this development initiative has fulfilled any of the above requirements.
Environmentally, the project brings several areas into questions. If it is true that the intention of the initiative is to raise cattle, why is it being based on the slopes of a mountain where soil erosion will be greatest?
(see open letter form Christop Weber below!)
Soil erosion and the waste run off from the cattle project will undoubtedly reduce the quantity of the island's only river which is the drinking water for two government schools and many homes and communities. Whith the amount of area neeeded to accommodate thousands of head of cattle we believe, that the island of Gaua is far less suited to this type of development than other cattle producing islands of the south. On top of the island is an area being cleared to the lake and is already infringing upon the GEF funded project to preserve the bush around Lake Letas and Lake Letas itself is a national conservation area.
All this is said without mention of the damage done to the ecosystem and the old growth forest by the current brushing of the bush as well as future brushing. One cannot predict the full effects of this project upon the value of the water system provided by the Siri river.
With this being the year of the "Custom Economy" which is supported by every department in the national government - and with customary land rights and education such a prominent social issue today, we despite the lack of proper approval and with full knowledge of the negative aspects of this form of developent, the local and national government has been turning a "blind eye" to this situation taking place on our island.
Siri falls and Lake Letas are considered to be environmental and cultural treasures of the people of Gaua. We gelieve that our government should feel the same, and take the appropriate steps to safeguard these national treasures from exploritation and harm.
Thank you for your consideration and understanding.

My name is Christoph Weber. I'm a germany volcanologist and work on active volcanoes since 10 years. I have visited Vanuatu a few times, but Gaua island only the first time in December 2007. I heard and read about the "cattle project" during this visit.
I fully support the iniciative of the letter of Mr. Charles Bice and Victor Wotias (see letter above) and to my subject of volcanism, I can add some deep concerns too.

The primary forest around the volcanic caldera of Gaua is not only a natural treasure, it its more like a protecting circle for the inhabitated coastel lowland of Gaua. This Forest on the steep slopes of the volcano holds back partly, whatever is being released by the volcano during eruptions. It could be volcanic ash including the entire lake water. The phenomena which could come with an eruption is called Lahar and is very dangerous. The less protecting vergetation is in an area, the more dramatic a Lahar will be. This is somehow similar to erosion in common.
The second reason to have this area uninhabitated is the fact, that the circle towards the caldera is just not safe at all during eruptions. Beside the Lahar phenomena, hot clouds of ash can rush down the volcanic cone of Mt. Garet, passing Lake Letas and travelling down the slopes of the cladera. Volcanic blocks will reach upper part of the calera. And again, a protecting forest will reduce the risk for the costal settlements. Last but not least, we know, that erosion of volcanic soil in tropical climat is very quick. That erosion could culminate in a massive land slide. If this happens in the Siri river canyon, the natural barrier holding back the water of lake Letas could be destroyed. This flash flould would effect deadly the western part of the island as fa as down to the coast. Would logging followed by cattle grazing, is known to be one of the quickest release for soil erosion.
Not to forget the touristic damage for Gaua and hole Vanuatu, by damaging the ecosystem and the old forest of the island. Specially when you know, that not so much is left of this natural treasure of highest value for the next generations of Ni-Vanuatus. All this is said without mention of the damage done to the ecosystem and the old growth forest by the current brushing of the bush as well as future brushing. One cannot predict the full effects of this project upon the value of the water system provided by the Siri river.

ACTIVITY-NEWS from Oct. 2009!!!