ESRAM FIJI: CHRIS HEIDER

SPREP-PEBACC BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA 21 -22 NOVEMBER 2016

Outline •Approach

•Methodology

•Work to Date

•Key EbA Issues

•Highlights & Challenges

•Process Issues Emerging

•Next Steps

Project Team •Project Management – Chris Heider

•Ecosystem Ecology (terrestrial & coastal) – Chris Heider

•Marine & Freshwater Ecology – Rikki Dunsmore

•Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Geomorpology – Ed Salminen

•Natural Resource Economics, Social Capital – Mark Buckley

•Traditional Culture & Heritage – Simione Tuimalega

•SPREP Country Lead – Herman Timmermans

•SPREP Project Officer, Logistics Officer, Communications Officer – Filomena, Roneel & Jilda

Datelin

e

An

ti-Merid

ian

Fiji Islands Mapping Mayhem & Fun Facts:

•The dateline crosses the two focal areas for the ESRAM

•Access to base maps is painful or non-existent (see example here)

•Queries for available data using online website creates a total mess, accessing all 360 degrees of the globe

•Have this “lucky challenge” only in: • Our study area: Macuata Province & Taveuni

Island, as well as Rabi Island (Fiji)

• Chukokta and Wrangel Island (Russia)

• Ross Dependency, Antarctica (NZ)

Macuata

Taveuni

Taveuni Island • ~437 km2

• 13 Vanua • Free Hold • Lease Holders • Agriculture export & Tourism sectors

Macuata Province: • ~1,976 km2

• ~2,841 km2 in watershed area • ~101 Villages surveyed by CCD • Large sugar cane hub • Dispersed fishing fleet • Forestry

Approach •Focus on describing ecosystem functions through “lens” of what matters to people (e.g. scarcity of ecosystem goods & services)

•Identify Limiting Factors and Forces of Change that are both through management (behavior) and through climate (perceived and real)

•ESRAM document will cover all three scales in one document

•Executive Summaries will highlight factors at each scale to target audiences (National and Provincial Government, NGO/IGOs, Community Leaders).

Scope, Budget & Level of Effort

43%

43%

14%

Island (Taveuni) Province (Macuata) National

Island Scale Vulnerability: • Focus on lasting management framework (GIS) • Work through traditional landowner structure • Integrate Free-Hold Landowners & Limitations • Identify policy-rooted synergies or obstacles (e.g. Leased land)

Province Scale Vulnerability: • Role of industry in national economy • Community/ Village Vulnerabilities (perceived) • Synthesis of GIS data to identify vulnerabilities (quantified) • Review of ongoing efforts for EbA/ CBMA • Cross linkages of Provincial & Government Policies • Watershed management across boundaries

National Scale Vulnerability: • Policy-related or goal activities and potential synergies/obstacles • Pathways to sustainable management via Policy or Program initiative

Field Effort, Workshops & Meetings [CATEGORY NAME]

[CELLRANGE] [SERIES NAME]

June 2016

[CATEGORY NAME] [CELLRANGE] [SERIES

NAME] August 2016

[CATEGORY NAME] [CELLRANGE] [SERIES

NAME] October-November 2016

[CATEGORY NAME] [CELLRANGE] [SERIES

NAME] (2017)

Total Trips: 4 Missions International Person Trips: 8 Total People Days: 105

Climate Forces

Hydrology & Freshwater Resources

Marine & Freshwater

Ecology

Agriculture & Forestry

Terrestrial Ecology

Transportation & Energy

Infrastructure

Limiting Factors

& Forces Affecting Change

Vulnerable Resources

Scarcity

Vulnerable Conditions

Governance

Implementation Capacity

Implementation Mechanisms

Social Structure Context

Adaptation Context “Filter”

Implementation Feasibility Adaptation Benefits

Social Capital Adaptation Strategies

EbA/ CBMA

Thematic Review Social & Economic Lenses Applied

Social Structure Context

Vanua structure

Government structure

Land tenure

Market structure

Population demographics

Donors

Governance

Traditional resource owners

Elected and appointed

officials

Land Board

Market forces and

Commerce

Landowners and Lessees

Implementation IGOs/NGOs

Implementation Capacity

Internal organizational

External relations

Leadership and personnel

Skills and tools

Implementation Mechanisms

Projects

Programs

Laws

Adaptation Context “Filter”

The human framework to design and conduct EbA/ CBMA

Key Considerations of Adaptation •Is the change related to climate or behavior? Both?

•What is the threat or incentive to drive change in behavior towards adaptation?

•Who owns the land/ water resources affected?

•Who controls the resources?

•Can common stakeholder goals allow for successful adaptation to change?

Land Tenure Drives Land Stewardship Who owns what?

•Traditional Lands = Clans

•Free-hold Lands = Individuals or entities

•Leased Lands = Leased for short term, 30, 50 or 99 years.

•Marine resources (aquaculture) = Also owned and leased (no known freehold).

•Issues surrounding investment in resource health and sustainability when lands are not owned. Why invest in land when it’s not yours?

Development of Vulnerable Resources, Adaptation Options, Benefits

Examples of Vulnerability Analysis for

•Marine Ecosystems

•Freshwater Resources

•Agricultural Systems

•Terrestrial Ecosystems

•Transportation & Energy

See flowchart

Climate Forces

Hydrology & Freshwater Resources

Marine Ecology

Agriculture & Forestry

Terrestrial Ecology

Transportation & Energy

Infrastructure

Limiting Factors

& Forces Affecting Change

Vulnerable Resources

Scarcity

Vulnerable Conditions

Governance

Implementation Capacity

Implementation Mechanisms

Social Structure Context

Adaptation Context “Filter”

Implementation Feasibility Adaptation Benefits

Social Capital Adaptation Strategies

EbA/ CBMA

Thematic Review Social & Economic Lenses Applied

Marine/coastal ecosystems

Climate forces

Storm frequency and

intensity

Sea surface temperature

Sea level flux

Ocean acidification

Additive forces

Overfishing

Terrestrial runoff

pollution

Mangrove and marsh

degradation and loss

Material extraction (sand, rock and coral)

Channel dredging

Oceanographic patterns

Use related Damage

Vulnerable conditions

Inadequate reef and

pelagic fish populations

Coral reef health and

extent

Sea grass health and

extent

Eroded coasts

Pollution attenuation

capacity

Community use &

Livelihood

Adaptation strategies

Marine reserves/Tabu

Fishing regulations

Habitat protection/res

toration

Fish export limits

Upland agricultural

BMPs

Planting/Engineering

solutions

Resilience benefits

Increased/reliable tourism

revenue

Reliable fish/invert

harvest stocks

Coastal prop/infr

protection

Recreation & Tourism

Public health

Freshwater resources

Climate forces

Storm frequency

and intensity

Sea level flux

Rainfall magnitude

Air temperature regime

Drought frequency,

duration, intensity

Additive forces

Existing ground/

surface water trends

Population trends

Terr. runoff pollution

(erosion, mines, sani)

Wetland & riparian

degradation and loss

Gravel extraction

Delivery infrastructure

Ag. Trends (irrigation)

River/stream re-engineering

Vulnerable conditions

Groundwater supply

Surface water supply

Pollution attenuation

capacity

Floodplain vulnerability

Community use/Livelihood of aquatic use

Aquatic habitat & species

Recreation & Tourism

Adaptation strategies

Reserves/Tabu

Mining, forest, ag.

regulations

Mining, forest, ag.

BMPs

Riparian/ wetlands

restoration

Engineering (infrastructural)

solutions

Water metering&

pricing

Resilience benefits

Increased/ reliable water

supply

Floodplain protection

Clean water supply

Reduction in delivered pollutants

Sustainable aquatic fisheries

Recreation & tourism

Public health

Agricultural systems

Climate forces

Storm frequency

and intensity

Air temperature

Rainfall distribution

Rainfall magnitude

Additive forces

Imports

Land tenure

Competitive uses(forestry,

urban, etc)

Customs & practices

Market Demand (includes quality)

Operating costs

Disease vectors

Vulnerable conditions

Household revenue

dependence

Household food

dependence

Eroding soils

Soil infertility

Agricultural land base

Adaptation strategies

Stable land tenure

Agricultural prescriptions

& BMPs

Soil fertility management

Local sourcing (keep it local)

Agro-Engineering

solutions

Fair Trade (etc.)

Resilience benefits

Increased/ reliable farm

revenue

Reliable food supply

Reduction of reef/ marine

habitat damage

Investments in local

community

Water quality

Public health

Agrotourism

Terrestrial ecosystems

Climate forces

Rainfall frequency and intensity

Drought

Windstorms

Air temperature

Storm Surge

Additive forces

Deforestation

Large flood events

Land use change

Imbalanced nutrient

dynamics

Invasive species

Subsistence harvest

Vulnerable conditions

Fragmented forests

Active grass-fire cycle

Reduced native seed

stock

Invasive species

expansion

Erosion/ soil degradation

Lowered resistance to

disease

Unstable wood supply

Adaptation strategies

Forest reserves

Land use planning &

design

Mixed plantation

use

Riparian enhancement

Forest expansion

Wetland conservation

& law

Biocontrol protocols

Resilience benefits

Fire resistance

Increased biodiversity

Flood& Erosion control

Sustain yield harvest

Pollutant attenuation

Infrastructure protection

Sustained Soil

productivity

Transportation & Energy Infrastructure

Climate forces

Storm frequency

and intensity

Air temperature

Sea level flux

Additive forces

Population growth

Fuel prices

Land use patterns and

trends

Market trends (ag, biz)

Fiji geography/ accessibility

Vulnerable conditions

Transportation

infrastructure

Petroleum-based energy and

transportation systems

Disaster response capability

Community connectivity/g

eographic separation

Power Grids

Adaptation strategies

Transportation infrastructure

investment

Renewable energy systems

Food & H20 self- reliance

Distributed energy

Pricing (tiered, time

of use)

Erosion/storm proofing

fortification

Resilience benefits

Reliable market

competitiveness

Disaster response

speed

Reliable energy supply

Reliable transportatio

n systems

National cohesion

Other Key EbA/ CMBA Issues •Gazetted regulated and enforced fishing rights while maintaining traditional ownership

•Agricultural Fertilization Premixes, Multi-tiered “agroecology” plots

•Fortify replanting efforts in Macuata (Dept. Forestry)

•Mangrove and coastal wetland management (policy)

Highlight: Traditional Owners Workshop •Gathered traditional leaders of Taveuni Island from 3 Districts

•Focused on identifying Core of Traditional Structure first

•Leaders identified responsibilities (Tutu vaka vanua) to the landscape

•Unified vision of how landscape should be mapped (Tua)

•Identified activities to be conducted in each Tua for each District

•Created subcommittee to engage issues with other landowners

•Identified next steps for Vanua and other landowners

Mapping of Traditional Tua •Workshop reaching core of responsibilities within vanua

•Identify set of rules and responsibilities for land and sea management

•Identified ranges of conditions for resources in each “Tua”

Waitui

Cakau

Sawana

Matavura

Koro

Saurusa

Voavoa

Teitei

Tokaitua

Qakilo

Veikauloa

Veikaulalai

Tua Description – what grows there, what is its purpose? Importance – what is provided by this area?

Waitui Deep sea Food, income, air, wind, storms

Cakau Reef Food, fish, protection from storms, nursery area, tourism (diving) income,

Sawana From reef to beach, intertidal area Food, fishing grounds

Matavura Coastal strand – where you moor your boats at night, mangroves Protection, filtration (protects reef), buffers reef from runoff, access to the sea, gateway to the sea,

tourism, family area

Koro Above the wave zone, location of villages House and home, dwellings, community, schools, church, commerce, rest and relaxation

Saurusa Empty space between villages, garden, forest providing plants, villages may

grow into these areas, expansion

Burial areas, expansion, food and nourishment, firewood, construction material, light timber production,

material for thatching,

Voavoa Formerly Teitei -- fallow areas, agricultural area, market, farms, rotational

farming, can change position with Teitei Needed to maintain the Teitei

Teitei Organized farming, currently cultivated, can change position with Voavoa

(rotating ~7-10 years) Food for village and commerce, sustainability

Tokaitua Intermediate ridge tops Hunting (pigs, chickens)

Qakilo Inter-valleys, side streams located within Protection from landslides, wind, hunting, erosion protection, water infiltration, spring water

Veikauloa Deep forest, mid-slope forest, can be rain-forest, big trees, water source Rain interception, tourism (hiking, bird watching)

Veikaulalai Cloud Forest – Ridgetop mist catcher Cloud-water interception, source of water, chiefly location

Traditional Mapping Structure

Taveuni Resource Mapping Framework

Workshop Outcome: Activities Number Action

1 Reforestation – Replanting of trees and new trees suitable for Taveuni Climate

2 Replanting of coconut trees on the farming area

3 Encourage, introduce, and enforce organic farming on Taveuni land

4 Replanting of appropriate trees on river banks

5 Replanting of trees on shoreline

6 Be more vigilant of blue line on forest reserve and stop encroaching farming

7 Organize more workshops for youth participation

8 Formation of subcommittee representation from the three (3) districts to be the

voice of this forum at other meetings

9 To approach estate owners, new immigrants, and resettled farmers, hoteliers, to be

part of this conservation movement

10 Buffer zones on river banks

(11) (Aquaculture and access to fisheries technology)

Other Key Outcomes: Macuata •Analysis of all major villages in Macuata Province pertaining to vulnerability (ongoing)

•Strong GIS data library to analyze watershed functions

•Integration of sugar industry & energy plant operations for potential involvement

•Great support from Macuata High Chief to work on ways to develop fishing regulations that are documented by Government, with Enforcement

•Support from neighboring Cakadrove Province to approach regarding watershed management in connected landscapes (approximately 1/3 of watershed area is outside Macuata Province)

Other Implementation Options •Strengthening communities in the role and function of the 7 Tutu vaka vanua for resource management (requested by Taveuni, direct relevance to Macuata fishing rules).

•Resource mapping using new image products to properly map and quantify land use/ land cover change from 2010 – 2016.

•Supporting on-going efforts within Macuata: Marine, forestry, river restoration/ function.

Issues & Challenges •ESRAM is a very comprehensive assessment in a very short timeline. Consider it a “living document” to be updated or enhanced (and not cumbersome)

•How will approaches ensure project longevity? What makes this so different than any other planning document?

•NGOs were very willing to share information (where not restricted); Government was less willing. Information privacy issues were a constant issue.

Big Questions •How to incentivize conducting activities to increase resilience in a way that is not just “another project” funded and implemented by external groups?

•What motivation is there to participate in EbA/ CBMA? What happens in 10 years?

•Who is buying in? Communities to SPREP project or SPREP project to communities? How to ensure longevity?

•Land Tenure is a key challenge for being vested in long-term sustainability; how are other countries managing this?

Next Steps •Draft ESRAM Complete (2016)

•Field mission to communities (early 2017) to communicate findings and get feedback; further development of EbA specifics

•Phase 2 (TBD)