FACING MOTHER NATURE
AN ISLAND NATION AT RISK
Tropical Cyclone Evan in 2012 was the most severe storm to hit the island nation of Samoa in more than 20 years. NASA satellites occasionally observe “storm-cells as tall as the one in the eyewall of Evan… over land, but before the TRMM [Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission] satellite, they were not thought to occur over ocean”. Tropical Cyclones are exacerbated by climate change; warmer, moister air “lowers the surface pressure and encourages intensification of the winds circling the eye”.
Damage from Cyclone Evan underscored the fragility of Samoa’s coastal zone, and highlighted the importance of comprehensive coastal zone management.
Over the past 10 years we’ve had some extreme tropical cyclones like Heta in 2004, and 5 near miss cyclones in the 2005 cyclone season alone. Then there was the tsunami in 2009, and recently in 2012 with Cyclone Evan, so it‘s becoming a common problem that most communities in Samoa face, and coastal communities [in particular]. Given that 75% of government assets and residential settlements are all within the coastal zone, this coastal erosion problem is becoming a major issue now. - Moira Faletutulu, PACC Samoa National Co-ordinator
A RESILIENT PACIFIC STARTS WITH A VILLAGE
BUILDING ON COMMUNITY LEVEL ACTIONS, A REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR A MORE CLIMATE-READY REGION
Championed by the Government of Samoa, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project receives direct support from UNDP as the implementing agency. Project execution is ensured by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The PACC project is funded by the Global Environment Facility‘s Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) – a fund that was established to support adaptation and technology transfer in all developing country parties to the UNFCCC. Additional funding has been provided by the Australian Government to support the replication of successful demonstration adaptation interventions in a broader range of vulnerable communities.
The PACC project is the largest climate change adaptation initiative in the Pacific region, with demonstration projects in 14 Pacific island countries. It directly benefits 80 communities, piloting on-the-ground adaptation solutions.
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
SHORELINE PROTECTION AND RIVER DEFENCE
The PACC Samoa project began with the realisation that coastal zone management requires full stakeholder involvement and community-wide participation.
In Samoa, there are traditional ties to land. It’s very important. People see it as part of their identity, so they value land highly. … This problem (coastal erosion and inundation) will directly impact their livelihoods. – Moira Faletutulu, National PACC Coordinator for Samoa.
Part of PACC’s strategy is to enhance the capacity of communities to adapt and make informed decisions regarding climate risks and responses. As part of this effort, community fono, stakeholder meetings, and national consultative processes were undertaken. As a result, the PACC project has achieved: 1) Combined manual/guideline for shoreline protection and river defence with links to strengthen existing planning regulations and legislation, and 2) Established a bylaw with the community to aid in the rehabilitation of river and water catchment areas (which both enhances capacity and cultivates links to policy enforcement and implementation).
A water resource bylaw, linked to their coastal protection programme, has been formulated and endorsed for the village of Tafitoala, providing for enforcement of both water and coastal resource management at the community level by the community themselves.
The Bylaw was created by the community members, for the community and enforced by the community. …The decisions and village rules will be recognised in the court system as it is an enforcement vehicle for the main Water Resource Management Act. - Moira Faletutulu, National PACC Coordinator for Samoa.
The Bylaw will hopefully put an end to unsustainable activities such as the clearing of priority forest areas and vegetation, contamination of water quality in rivers through the use of chemicals, wastes from cattle farms and other activities that contaminate the water sources.
Affected communities requested a comprehensive infrastructural change to complement the policy-level efforts. PACC Samoa is working at three sites – Tafitoala village on Upolu and Lefagaoalii and Lalomalava on Savai’i; activities include re-vegetation of coastal areas, building protection structures, protecting coastal water springs, and building community awareness, consultations and engagement.
The coasts are where the people live. …Most of the low-lying areas in Samoa are vulnerable to flooding and also to sea-level rise, and storm surges. If we don‘t do something about it, for sure people will be really affected in the coming future. We can see signs of that vulnerability at the moment within the low-lying areas. – Sooalo Tito Alatimu, Principal Forester, Forestry Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).
SHORELINE ALTERATION
RE-VEGETATION & NATURAL BUFFER ZONES
Re-vegetation was completed along coastal and lowland river areas to bolster the rock wall defences, and to ensure that coastal zones are more resilient to the effects of climate change. Re-vegetation with indigenous plants serves as a carbon-negative means of preventing erosion.
Importantly, 2,593 acres of upland water catchment areas have been revegetated and rehabilitated; these actions are key to reducing flood risks. For example, in the impressive Safata district watershed with its emblematic waterfalls, PACC activities have been coordinated with MNRE’s Water Resources Division, given that this large catchment has its narrow outlet right at Tafitoala village.
RIDGE TO REEF
LIVING WITH RIVERS AND THE SEA
Working from the ridge to the reef, PACC Samoa activities have provided lessons on integrated coastal zone management and watershed protection, including lessons from extreme events, such as Cyclone Evan. Co-ordinating these efforts is in service of enhancing integrated approaches; the project is currently developing the ‘Living with Rivers and the Sea’ manual. Future adaptation works, in particular shoreline and river defence management, will be informed by this manual and the understanding that coastal protection requires integrated watershed management. PACC Samoa is supporting positive adaptation strategies beyond the life of the project.
If you can really care for your coastal environment that will be your first line of defence for any kind of disturbance that comes. We know that having a good and healthy environment results in having healthy people too. A well protected environment from the reef to the ridge will be really good for the people of Samoa. – Sooalo Tito Alatimu, Principal Forester, Forestry Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).
For more information on the project, please visit the UNDP-ALM PACC Samoa Project Profile.
FOOTNOTES: Story by David Angelson and Andrea Egan / Photos: Joe Hitchcock and Luke McPake