Rising Tides a New Norm for Villagers
Like learning to live with the life-threatening COVID-19 virus, sea level rise has also become the new norm for many Fijians.
Numerous research indicates that it is linked to climate change.
For villagers in Namuka, Bau, Tailevu, while they remain free of COVID-19, king tides are something they anticipate with fear.
For the past five years, homes have been built on crawl space foundations to stay clear of coastal inundation. These foundations are built 1 to 3 feet off the ground giving enough space to crawl.
Despite the physical evidence of worsening coastal and river erosion, the thought of relocation is a possibility villagers do not wish to explore.
The low-lying island is a five-minute boat ride from the Bau landing, about a 20 minutes’ drive from Nausori town.
REAL CHALLENGES
Raijieli Tamaya’s home is situated about a metre from the village riverbank.
“It has become a norm to see our homes flooded when we experience king tide waves. Our efforts of trying to fight it will be of no use if we don’t take drastic measures now,” Ms Tamaya said.
“Our floor beams to help protect us are slowly corroding - but for how long can we stay until mother nature takes over.”
Ms Tamaya lives with her two children. Her husband works overseas.
“Before my husband left, we would dig out the excess mud to form a seawall. Now my children and I maintain it on a daily basis to help stop the sea coming into our homes.”
A research of the Pacific including Fiji noted that sea level rise will cause a significant increase in the frequency and severity of coastal flooding in the near future.
Jerome Aucan, a research scientist within the French Institute for Research and Development observed that: “The rate of global mean sea level (GMSL) has likely accelerated during the last century, and projections predict that sea level will be 0.4 to 0.8 m higher at the end of this century around the Pacific islands.
“The island countries of the Pacific have, and will continue to experience, a positive rate of sea level rise.”
Namuka village headman Solomoni Vatu said there was no proper seawall to safeguard the village because waves.
“We are currently raising money to try and rebuild the worn-out seawall but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has delayed our village plans to commence.”
For now, the planting of mangrove seedlings is their hope of holding the front of coastal inundation.
Another observation made by Mr Vatu was the frequent use of the river bank instead of the jetty to embark and disembark. He believes this has caused unnecessary erosion over the years. it was damaged by strong
It has become a norm to see our HomEs flooDED when we experience king tIDE wAvEs. Raijieli Tamaya Namuka Villager
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
Based on the described circumstances, Department of Environment Permanent Secretary, Joshua Wycliffe, said the village qualified for a nature-based solution assistance.
Nature-based solutions are the use of boulders or soft rock nature to combat disasters pushed on nature itself to keep Fijians safe.
Cement and concrete are not used for building seawalls.
Mr Wycliffe added that the Department is actively working with existing resources at their disposal and will intervene at the earliest.
RELOCATION
Two clans make up the village of Namuka, with a population of 242 villagers.
“There have been discussions about relocation however we do not see that as a backup plan as we wish not to be relocated,” Mr Vatu said.
A major reason is because of the land capacity and ownership.
Fifty-one hectares of land belongs to the Tikinabete clan and 69 hectares belongs to the Matasau clan.
“We have no other land ownership other than the one we are living in right now, this is where we farm and have had our home for generations.
“Relocation would also mean leaving behind our piece of land and asking to crowd the land that belongs to the Matasau clan - that
would create more challenges in the future.”
Mr Vatu is hopeful for assistance from Government and non-government organisations (NGO).
He believes that the key to safeguarding Namuka Village is by building a stronger seawall. It can at least stop sea water inundation, he said.
PLANNED RELOCATION GUIDELINES
But if the sea level rise and sea water inundation continues mercilessly, then Namuka villagers may have to seriously consider relocation. It is probably the only solution to a viable future.
Government’s Planned Relocation Guidelines, the process requires a fundamental and efficient relationship of those involved.
This includes the Government, the affected communities and the non-State actors.
The aim is to optimize the stages of planned relocation and minimise any negative impact associated with the movement.
As part of the human mobility process associated with climate change, planned relocation will be one adaptation technique to be considered by the affected communities, only when all adaptation options have been exhausted.