An agreement has been signed in Vanuatu to gather information on traditional practices to minimise weather and climate impacts in communities.
The memorandum of understanding between the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department and its partners, will see a collaborated effort to collect traditional knowledge indicators on weather and climate.
The national coordinator of the project, Philipe Mansale, says information gathering will be carried out on the islands of Tanna, Malekula, Pentecost and Ureparapara.
Mr Mansale says the Department uses science to predict weather events but says people don't always respond well to it because they have developed their own methods.
"The department is engaging with partners to collect these traditional indicators on weather and climate and to blend it with the modern science so that whenever we put out climate information or a warning, people can relate themselves to the indicators, they can make better decisions at the community level."
Philipe Mansale says a database will be created to host the information collected and used in climate prediction.
