A village and cemetery in Vanuatu connected to a chief who ruled four centuries ago are an example of Pacific Island heritage that must be protected, according to an official with the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, in the region.

Akatsuki Takahashi, a UNESCO Culture Specialist based in Samoa, was in Australia recently to attend a symposium held by Blue Shield, a non-governmental international organization described as a kind of “Red Cross” for culture.

Julia Dean asked Ms. Takahashi about the importance of shielding the region’s landmarks against natural disasters and man-made hazards such as armed conflict.