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Adapting to a Changing Environment

National Trust of Fiji Islands

Savusavu, Fidji

An Overview Of Our Solution

Who is this solution impacting?
Écosystème
Oceans
Oceans/Coasts
Type de communauté
Rural
Rural
Additional Information
  • Population Impacted:
  • Continent: Oceania
General Info

Adresse

22 Daku Road
Savusavu
Fidji

E-mail

jniukula@nationaltrust.org.fj
Problem

Population impactée

300-500

Size

1378 hectares

Principaux métiers

Farming and Fishing, and weaving for women

Ressources locales dont dépend la communauté et dans quel but

The community depends on fisheries and farming as a source of food and livelihood. Bech-de-mer diving is the major source of income for the villagers.

Menaces locales sur les ressources

to Fisheries are over-exploitation by the community, driven by modern methods such as scuba diving by bech-de-mer divers and nets. the number of fisherman fishing in the Yadua area is increasing. There is also poaching from outsiders

Aléas climatiques

The community is most concerned about include: Rise in sea level and irregularity of weather pattern has been a major concern for the community in Yadua.

Niveau de sensibilité

Storm surges have continuously eroded the coastline and in a recent cyclone, December, 2012, 75% of the village was flooded with sea water. The increasing intensity of cyclones has been feIt by the villagers. There is increased coastal erosion resulting in the loss of homes and flat land area along the village front. In addition, irregular weather pattern have influenced the production pattern of farm produce, causing damage to vegetable and crops and decreasing the harvest for community consumption.

Niveau de capacité d'adaptation

Adaptive approaches were established to cope with the impacts of these climate hazards. Coastal reforestation program and gardening program was in place. Nurseries were built to house seedlings for coastal plants, vegetables and crop cuttings for propagation before transplanting it to identified areas. Women are very supportive of these adaptive approaches as they have taken the initiative to establish their own backyard garden using the vegetables seedling from the nursery when it?s ready for transplant. A few community members were part of the climate change adaptation planning workshop that was organized by PACE and these has been very helpful to them and have started implementing it in the village such as replanting coastal plants along the village front.
Solution

The Yadua community have very limited alternative livelihood compared to other communities. In terms of location, it is remotely located which cost a high amount of money to travel. Currently, young men have been part of the diving crew for a diving company based on the island, in which they earn a huge amount of money compared to any other money driven activities in the village. A lone canteen is also operated on the island run by a woman who is very successful all these years because of the demand from the community members. The rest of the community depends only on Fisheries as an alternative source of income and livelihood. Food security was a major concern for the community. From this climate change adaptation, a lot of crop and vegetable varieties were introduced into the island and have successfully grown which indicate a high chance of survival on the island. In addition, Marine Protected Area is also established on the island for sustainable harvesting of marine resources. Communities are very supportive of their MPA and the safeguarding of their fishing ground from poachers.

Results

Bénéfice écologique

- Forested coastlines and watershed

Indicateurs économiques utilisés pour mesurer les avantages

- Number of trees planted - Number of beaches reforested

Coût communautaire/social

- Volunteer time for planning and design (workshops) - Time spent for project apart from normal household chores - Writing management plans for resources ? this is a new approach most community rules are not written

Bénéfice communautaire/social

- Increased awareness and support - Written plans for future generations - Healthy diet - more vegetables included in meals

Indicateurs communautaires/sociaux utilisés pour mesurer les avantages

- Number of community participants attending training - Number of new vegetable gardens established

Avantage économique

- Additional income anticipated from newly established pineapple plantation - No expenses for purchase of vegetables

What were/are the challenges your community faced in implementing this solution?

After the island was badly affected by the cyclone in December, 2012, the community concentrated on rehabilitating the village and building their houses so it has been a challenge for the facilitators to implement more activities on the island. Fortunately, the project committee and rangers continued to implement the project ensuring its progress towards the targeted outputs.

Action

Décrire le processus communautaire utilisé pour développer la solution, y compris les outils et les processus utilisés

A climate change workshop was conducted in Yadua Island where community identified risk and threats encountered on the environment and identify possible solution to help reduce the impact imposed. A one year climate Change adaptation project was initiated from this workshop outcome as a solution to the risk and threats identified. Stakeholders were identified according to the activities planned. The main objective was to involve communities for decision making. Consultation was conducted during village meeting to obtain their approval and consensus on the project. Endorsement letter was received from the chief and project committee consisted of youth, church rep, women and men. Department of Forest and Department of Agriculture was very supportive of the establishment of nurseries and skill implementation technique demonstrated to the community members. National Trust Ranger and the project committee have been very supportive which enable the project to progress to date. Women have established their Backyard garden as an ongoing process from the vegetable nursery. They are very grateful of the initiative as it helps them grow varieties of vegetables in their own backyard which they haven?t done before. The village holds a meeting every week where the weeks collective program is discussed. The above adaptive approaches have also been included in the meeting agenda for the last couple of years. The National Trust ranger who resides in the village and polices the Fijian Crested Iguana sanctuary has also been obligated to supervise all activities held under the climate change project. This climate change project by the National Trust began in June, 2012.

Aléa climatique préoccupant

Other

Comment votre solution réduit-elle l'exposition et protège-t-elle l'écosystème affecté ?

Coastal Reforestation program will help stabilize the shoreline and also protect the sand from eroding during spring high tide or storm surge. Growing of mangroves along the shore will control the currents flow, weaken strong waves and its effect on the coastline, and also serve other function such as nursery for fish larvae, etc. Introduction of varieties of crops and vegetables determines the chances of survival for varieties that grows well on the island. Water pipe system have been established in the village where bore hole is used to supply water through the village. A few water tanks were also donated to the village for usage. Bore hole closes during heavy rainy days in to save water while villagers use rain water.

How has your solution increased the capacity of the ecosystem to adapt to potential climate changes?

The village front and other beaches will be able to protect itself against storm surges. With the wide range of farmed crops and vegetables, there is high chance that some will survive extreme climatic events.

Comment votre solution réduit-elle l'exposition et protège-t-elle les communautés affectées ?

A few families have been relocated to higher grounds after the devastation of cyclone Evan for safety as the village are highly exposed to strong winds and storm surge during cyclone season. Food security is advanced for all families. Each family are now planting at least two vegetables species from nil, and three crops with at least 3 varieties of each.

Comment votre solution réduit-elle la sensibilité des communautés affectées ?

With improved knowledge on climate change and its effects, the villagers are bound to make wiser decisions for example building houses on higher ground, controlling their harvest to last the hurricane seasons and droughts. Their preparation towards an approaching weather will be conducted with confidence.

Comment votre solution a-t-elle augmenté la capacité des communautés locales à s'adapter aux changements climatiques potentiels ?

The villagers are now collectively putting together management plans for fisheries, coastal areas and code of conduct for farming practices to ensure that these plans will be followed by future generations.

Scale

Cette solution peut-elle être reproduite ailleurs ?

We have plans to replicate this project in other National Trust site, especially those situated on the coast. Community involvement is a major requisite for the project to be successful. To ensure its continuous progress, it is recommended that certain members of the community are chosen and trained to supervise and ensure the continuity of the project. An innovative item of the project is the incorporation of these activities into general village activities, including it in weekly meetings with the village headman including it in his monthly reports to the provincial administration. Another item, is the building of a nursery in the village school, with a teacher trained to manage the nursery and school children, as part of their learning, to conduct the necessary activities involved in running the nursery and transplanting of plants.

Overview
Solution
Scale
Rare
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