Piloting climate change adaptation in the coastal zones in Samoa through improved natural defences
- Samoa
- Pacific
ENTRY DATE: 09.03.2012 | LAST UPDATE: 09.03.2012
SCALE:
- Countrywide
TARGET AREA:
- Rural
BEST PRACTICE IN:
- Project Implementation
KEY SECTOR:
- Coastal Zone Management
FUNDING AMOUNT:
- USD 500,001 - USD 1,000,000
Description of Intervention
Samoa is very vulnerable to extreme events, as illustrated by Tropical Cyclones Ofa (1990) and Val (1991) which devastated the country causing damage estimated to be about three times that of the GNP. The cyclones also caused severe damage to agriculture and biodiversity. Hence, it is imperative to develop a national policy framework to raise awareness about the need for adaptation and mitigation actions. This project is a step in this direction, through a focus on improving the resilience of coastal areas to the effects of climate change by the use of relevant adaptation measures.
Problems to be Addressed
• Nearly 70% of Samoa’s population and infrastructure are located in low-lying coastal areas, which are very vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, tsunamis and sea level rise; and
• Tropical cyclones (such as Heta in 2004) cause significant damage to the economy of Samoa to the tune of USD35 million (12% of GDP) mainly in coastal zones, utilities and infrastructure.
Aims
Enhancing and developing coastal infrastructure and natural protection to withstand the projected impacts of climate change on the coastal zone of Samoa
Objectives
• Training and implementation of a bottom-up vulnerability/adaptation assessment and community engagement in the pilot site;
• Design of a community engagement model/process in decision-making about key climate change adaptation measures;
• Training in designing and regenerating mangrove areas taking into consideration tidal flows and storm return periods;
• Training in design construction and maintenance of drainage and outflows for a 25-year storm event;
• Community-based participatory design and demonstration of an integrated coastal defence system and erosion control measures and buffer zone protection;
• Mangrove replanting in suitable areas;
• Coastal planting with native coastal plants;
• Controlling/managing of development or activities that affect coastal habitats and resources, including sand mining and reclamation;
• Creation of MPAs, reserves or “no-take” zones, on reefs, lagoons and mangroves;
• Creation of an environment or conservation committee within communities;
• Development of a local surveillance programme;
• Prohibiting rubbish disposal into the marine environment, including mangroves;
• Minimising and making recommendations for addressing coastal erosion;
• Restoring the health of coastal marine areas through restocking of marine resources such as giant clams, sea-urchin, molluscs and echinoderms; and
• Improving flushing of mangrove areas.
How it fits into the EbA concept
This project would enable the Government of Samoa to develop its capacity to plan and demonstrate a community-based integrated coastal protection model for adaptation to climate change. The government of Samoa is fully aware of the vulnerability of its coastal population and infrastructure, and has developed programmes for the assessment and identification of measures necessary to increase the resilience of the socio-economic infrastructure to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise in the long term.