A MATTER OF SURVIVAL FOR NAKALAWACA VILLAGE
Coastal erosion, sea level rise and sea inundation are all key displacement factors of climate change.
Coastal erosion, sea level rise and sea inundation are all key displacement factors of climate change.
Located inland about 65 kilometers from Nausori town lies the climate impacted village of Nakalawaca in the district of Namara in Tailevu.
The experiences of the past and present have had villagers living with concern and fear of what lies in the horizon for its future generation, land and sea.
MORE ACTION NEEDED
“Climate change is real, and I cannot emphasize it enough for people to understand and change their perspective on the issue that we face on a daily basis.”
A climate passionate believer at heart, Sekaia Muaduaduakibau is not only a villager of Nakalawaca but is also the Tailevu district representative on the fight against climate change.
His motives are driven by compassion towards the environment and the well being of his home and land.
“Though we are located in land, we also live right next to the sea and our coastlines are deteriorating because our seawall has lost its strength to protect us,” Mr Muaduaduakibau
“We reached out to government numerous times, but our requests have remained unanswered,”
“We have been told by government that we need to obtain a license from them if we wish to extract sand and gravel from our own foreshore. It’s another long process of going back and forth,” he said.
Under Section 2 of the State Lands Act 1945 and Section 2 of the Rivers and Streams Act 1880, the State (Government) owns all Foreshore, Rivers, Streams, and the Waters of Fiji including the soil under the waters of Fiji. This includes sand and gravel.
If anyone who wishes to extract for personal or commercial use of these materials, will need to obtain a license from the Ministry of Land and Mineral Resources through its three Divisional Offices.
Namely Lands Lautoka Office at Tavewa Building, Lands Central Eastern Office at Gladstone Road, Suva and Lands Labasa Officer at Macuata House.
RIDGE TO REEF PROJECT
In June of 2019, Mr Muaduaduakibau was privileged to work alongside the University of the South Pacific’s Institute of Applied Sciences as an implementing partner for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry was its government implementing agencies to which I am thankful for the awareness programme carried out through villages,” he said.
The initiative known as the Pacific Ridge to Reef (R2R) Programme Workshop saw the establishment of a mangrove nursey and coordinated with USP-IAS to plant coconut seed
lings.
Unfortunately, after a few months of replanting the mangrove seedlings, strong wave currents uprooted the seedlings with just a few remaining.
“Mangroves play a very important role in the marine ecosystem as it also acts as a natural barrier from king tides and strong currents. It helps blunt the force of an incoming wave’s energy.,”
“But with the few that we have, we are still vulnerable and highly exposed to tsunamis and natural disasters,” he said.
The coconut seedlings however has been a success.
“Our Yaubula projects are important to us so with the little resources we have, we invest in the upkeep of our village and its environment,” Mr Muaduaduakibau said.
“Though we hope for future assistance from government and NGOs, we will continue to discuss ways in upscaling and creating a greater impact on the ridge to reef initiatives in the district of Namara.”
With about 210 villagers, the introduction of the R2R initiative is to preserve biodiversity, ecosystem services, sequester carbon, improve climate resilience, and sustain livelihoods.
WOMEN NOTICE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
59-year-old Sera Momoka goes out to sea for her family’s daily food.
Looking back on the yester years, Ms Momoka noticed the presence of undersized fish and faces more challenges in reeling in a good catch.
“Before I would return home with two 10 kg bag full of clams (kaikoso). Now, if I’m lucky enough, half a kg is what I can find,” Ms Momoka said.
“Women now must go further out and spend longer hours out at sea. It becomes tiring at times, but we must do something to be able to have a good meal.”
Rising temperatures also increase the risk of irreversible loss of marine and coastal ecosystems.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, every fraction of degree matters.
Its widespread changes have been observed even in the village of Nakalawaca.
“The water could be cooler but it’s the total opposite now. Warm waters mean, our marine life is at risk and it will get worse,” Ms Momoka said.
“We mostly depend on the sea for food, with the warming of the sea, we are catching less and less and there is nothing we can do to change this.”
COASTAL EROSION
It has been three years living in Nakalawaca village for Marica Tokalauvere.
Her husband is a Methodist church steward, and they were assigned to serve not knowing the impacts of climate change that the village continuously faces.
“It took me a few months to adjust to seeing how the effects of climate change can be quite great,” Ms Tokalauvere said.
“Despite all these impacts, there is also a sense of resilience and adaptation with the people but for how long can we keep up is a question that is always at the back of minds.”
Their home is situated close to a cliff that falls right into the sea.
The erosion is a risk to villagers if they are not careful.
“When the waves hit during high tides, it goes right into the lower part of the village ground but for us it means the waves take back portions of the soil from the cliff hangings,” she said.
“We have noticed the rise in sea level playing a huge part in eating away our land so villagers opt to start building homes more inland for their own safety.”
OUTLOOK
Despite the lack of resources, villagers are hopeful help will arrive in due time.
Mr Muaduaduakibau says, “These initiatives are great but it is all like a trial and error for us.
We are looking towards a future that will help sustain us for the sake of our identity and our future generations.”
“We are pleading with the relevant government ministries to please take time out and visit us to discuss ways to tackle the effects of climate change.”
Nearby Nakorolevu village is no stranger to the impacts of climate change.
“The other villages are facing the same.
“All we can do now is work together towards the goal of actually doing the work to tackle climate change,” Mr Muaduaduakibau said.