integrated climate change risks in agriculture, health sectors in samoa
DESCRIPTION
Jasmine Sila. Integrated Climate Change Risks in Agriculture, Health Sectors in Samoa. Background Information. GEF/UNDP LDCF ( Least Developed Country Fund) – 2 Million USD – NHS,MAF,MNRE 4 Year project : 2009 – 2013 Project Goal : - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Jasmine Sila
GEF/UNDP LDCF ( Least Developed Country Fund) – 2 Million USD – NHS,MAF,MNRE
4 Year project : 2009 – 2013
Project Goal :
To safeguard human development in Samoa from new and additional risks associated with climate change.
Project Objective:
To increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of local communities in Samoa to the adverse impacts of climate change on agricultural production and public health
(i) Develop a Climate Early Warning System (CLEWS) under the Meteorology component to assist Agriculture and Health to better respond to the impacts of climate change and to inform their planning purposes;(ii)Align cross sectoral approach on Health and Agriculture with the Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2008 – 2012;(iii)Strengthen cross sectoral collaboration and coordination between the agricultural / food security, the National Health Service and Environment data service.
Outcome 1:•Enhanced technical and organization capabilities of the Meteorology Division to monitor climate trends and provide climate risk and early communications to the agricultural and health sectors.
Outcome 2:•Capacity of the agricultural sector improved to design adaptive policies and perform short – term seasonal) and long – term (decadal) agricultural planning and crop management
Outcome 3:•Capacity of the public health planners and public health workers strengthened to reduce the impact of climate change
58 Crop Maps each for Upolu and Savaii;
Soil Resource Interpretative Manual has been developed;
MAF now has a Geographical Information System (GIS) purchased under this project;
Contract for a GIS Consultant is underway to conduct a GIS Training for MAF staff;
Pilot sites for this project: Togitogiga (wettest area), Asau (driest area), Salailua (coast) and Nuu (control). On these four different sites, 5 climate ready crops will be planted to see if there really is an impact of climate to the growth of these crops;
Draft Report of the Climate Adaptation Strategy for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CASAFF).
Consultations have already been conducted
Currently in a Draft formA national consultation will be
conducted to validate this documentTranslated in Samoan, published and
launchedMainstreamed into the Agriculture
Sector Plan
What is happening?
How might this affect fisheries? What adaptation measures?
Rising air temperatures are resulting in higher sea surface temperatures
Reef-based fish species already near their thermal limits may disappear; other species have some ability to adapt but average sizes are expected to be smaller. Some large pelagic fish may be unable to adapt, so some preferred fish species could disappear.
These changes cannot be prevented so adaptation is possible only by shifting commercial targets and consumers changing their personal preferences. Expansion of pond aquaculture can help offset declines in yield.
Individual fish will tend to grow faster, and to be shorter-lived; breeding of some species will commence earlier and there could be a mismatch between timing ofreproduction and best conditionsfor larval development.
Local knowledge and observations will help monitor this sort of change, though its consequences cannot be fully understood at this time. Some adaptation is possible through aquaculture.
Initial assessment is that skipjack tuna schools will not be adversely impacted and, in the long term, possibly increase; however tuna habitat may be reduced where oxygen minimum zones expand.
Monitor tuna climate change impact information as it is updated and consider modifying oceanic fisheries operations and locations to suit.
Coral bleaching In some situations some coral replanting may be a practical way of hastening reef recovery but the main measure will be to work with others to reduce adverse impacts on reef health such as sediment and pollutants, and to eliminate physical damage to reefs. FADs can help to aggregate fish so as to ease the situation forinshore fishers experiencing declinein their reef fisheries. Establish fish reserves/marine protected areas to minimise physical damage to coral reefs
More carbon dioxide
dissolved in seawater
causes it to become
more acidic
Positive expectations for skipjack tuna stocks in Samoan
waters could be compromised if research establishes that
recruitment is lowered by adverse effect of increasing ocean
acidity on fish larvae and on plankton.
No direct adaptation measure can be taken to prevent this sort
of decline.
The capacity of corals and shell-forming species to deposit
calcium carbonate declines as seawater acidity
rises. Weakened coral reef
structures are more
vulnerable to storm damage so a gradual decline in coral reefs,
and the many fish and other species associated
with them, is anticipated
- with an increase
in
herbivorous fish species.
If other impacts that damage coral reefs can be curbed (such
as habitat damage, pollution, crown-of-thorns predation) this
will help maintain reef-based fisheries for longer until a new
ecosystem achieves some form of balance. Nothing can be
done to prevent this change except, perhaps, where reef
building species tolerant to
lower pH are identified
and are used in
reef
rehabilitation/adjustment activities. Sea level is rising Inundation of coastal seagrass and mangrove habitat will
reduce fish nursery areas.
Compensate for habitat loss by actively encouraging inland
extension of seagrasses and mangroves - a difficult measure
that will require cooperation and understanding, and
compromise, from affected persons and agencies.
Increased wet season
rainfall
More freshwater in estuaries and increased sediment carried
into estuaries and onto reefs.
Monitor adverse impacts on coastal fisheries and use the
information in coordination with efforts by crops, livestock and
forestry to bring about upstream management that minimises
soil erosion. Management of water catchments under
customary land tenure also to be addressed through
Community Based Fisheries Management Committees.
The combined effects
of climate change
Interactions of increased sea temperature and carbon dioxide,
coupled with expected changes in ocean circulation and
changed pH are likely to bring about changes in larval
dispersal and fish schooling.
Fisheries Division interaction with Community Based Fisheries
Management Committees provides a good basis for adaptive
measures. Also, seek guidance from computer based
modelling/simulations that may assist in understanding the
changing patterns of dispersal and
schooling, and testing management measures to suit.
Outbreak of Crown of thorn starfish (COTS) as a result of increased disturbance from more intense storms.
Through partnership arrangements with village communities and other agencies collect and burn COTS and other control measures.