‘Activities worsen climate effects’
Research team disseminates findings with local communities
UPSTREAM deforestation and iron-sand mining in the Ba River delta has aggravated the effects of climate change within communities in the area.
This was established by research teams from the University of Auckland, University of Western Australia, University of Sydney and the University of the South Pacific, which recently organised a dissemination workshop for three communities in the lower Ba catchment, Votua, Nawaqarua and Natutu recently.
The research teams also identified the need for more community-led climate adaptation research in Fiji.
Project leader, Professor Andreas Neef from the University of Auckland said these communities did not only face climate-related hazards such as cyclones, floods and droughts, but also other risks stemming from upstream deforestation and iron-sand mining in the Ba River delta.
“The combination of these risks puts increasing pressure on the local mangrove ecosystem and the livelihoods and ecological services that are derived from it,” said Prof Neef.
“The researchers combined scientific methods with local knowledge to identify the most viable adaptation strategies.
“In talanoa sessions, community members and researchers discussed how the research could be used to convince government officials and mining corporations about the immense value that the Ba delta’s vast mangrove area had for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, disaster risk management and the local economy.”
Community leaders expressed their gratitude to the research team for the trustful and productive work over several years and for making an effort to disseminate findings that are useful for improving local resilience and adaptive capacity.
Meanwhile, the research teams will continue its study in the Ba River delta under a project on climate-smart landscapes and livelihoods funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
The workshop was attended by 57 participants — concluding four years of research into local climate adaptation strategies funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research.