Fear Flows Along the Banks of Wainibuka River
Riverbank erosion is an increasing problem for some of our local communities. A percentage of Fiji’s population live along the banks of meandering rivers.
These settings are picturesque and evoke a sense of belonging and security. But of late, they are considered high-risk zones.
The village of Lutu, Wainibuka, in the province of Naitasiri is among those in the red zone.
Villagers are exposed to climate change-related impacts like increasing sea levels, intense rainfall, and tropical cyclones.
Despite being located miles from the sea, the recent Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted that when sea levels rise as quickly as they have been, there are devastating effects on communities’ further inland.
ISSUES
Lutu Village has a population of about 435 people. The safety, security and sustainability of villagers are under threat.
“Some of us no longer farm near the river side because of the risks and dangers when the Wainibuka river rises or when there is heavy rain,” village headman, Tevita Raisuqe said.
“I understand the seriousness and impacts climate change has on small communities such as ours and for that I will not stand by and do nothing.”
The Wainibuka river feeds many villages that are dependent on it.
“When natural disasters strike, root crops and other farm produce planted along the riverbanks are damaged,” he said.
“We of course plant again after floods risking it all again because we do not have much choice.”
Villagers find it easier to plant near riverbanks because of the accessibility to transport their produce by boat.
For now, we are doing all we can to help protect ourselves from the raging rivers whenever there is flooding or heavy rain. Tevita Raisuqe Headman, Lutu Village
CONSEQUENCES OF THE PAST ago, what was once the
Public Works Department (PWD) would extract gravel from the Wainibuka river at a spot near Lutu called ‘Waioili’.
The gravel was used for building nearby roads.
It is the same spot that is causing a lot of problems for the villagers.
“Our elders at that time stopped the gravel extraction works, and I believe we are facing the wrath of that operation,” he said.
Mr Raisuqe is pleading with the relevant authorities to consider the pleas that Lutu has been facing for a number of years now.
“The Wainibuka river has strong current and when there is heavy rainfall and rise in water level, it damages the disturbed spot in Waioili and brings about erosion,” he said.
“If government can visit to see where the river mouth has widened because of that gravel extraction.
“For now, we are doing all we can to help protect ourselves from the raging rivers whenever there is flooding or heavy rain,” he said.
THE FUTURE
Lutu villagers are looking at planting more vetiver grass to ease the erosion.
Vetiver grass is used in many lowlying communities to prevent soil erosion and support water retention.
“If things continue to worsen, then we are on the verge of no longer using the river for recreational activities and to put food on our table,” Mr Raisuqe said.
It may also affect the availability
of freshwater fish, eels, and mussels that villagers heavily depend on.
Mr Raisuqe said they had also started to extract soil and soapstone to fill up the eroding river bank and vacuum left by PWD. They are hopeful it would mitigate flooding.
Villagers are also raising funds to buy materials and resources that would assist in a permanent solution to stop water from entering the village.
“We are working towards more solutions and less problems for a safe future for our village,” he said.
IPCC REPORT
The IPCC report on Ocean and Cryosphere that riverbank erosion has become a serious problem in Pacific Island countries.
It revealed that sea-level rise will exacerbate inundation, erosion and other coastal hazards in a way that will compromise the socioeconomic well-being of island communities.
At the end point, when sea levels rise as quickly as they have been, there are devastating effects on communities’ further inland.
It can cause riverbank erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer (rocks that hold groundwater) and affect agriculture.
Apart from their own resilient actions, Lutu villagers also seek divine intervention. They pray that assistance will soon arrive.