Existing Solutions

Aquifers, Groundwater, Seismic event, Sea level rise, Vulnerability.

educational

Water resources, social and coastal assessments have been carried out on the island of Lifuka, Ha’apai Group, Tonga to the identify the potential impact on the communities, their assets and their island due to a recent sea level rise of approximately 23 cm. The impact of this rise and the adaptation strategies that the community have adopted and options they have will be a useful case study for other low lying island countries faced with the prospect sea level rise in response to climate change. In May 2006 an earthquake induced subsidence occurred on the island of Lifuka, Tonga.

The assessment results will be disseminated  to the communities of Lifuka for them to develop an evidence-based strategy for adapting to sea-level rise in Lifuka Island. This would mean empowering the communities on Lifuka to take address their water resources and coastal erosion and inundation issues at the community level. It will assist them to formulate strategies that would enable them to adapt to problems posed by rising sea level and its related impacts on groundwater, health, and food production on the island. Community engagement allows potential risks and trade-offs to be identified and where possible leading to  informed community decision making  regarding adopting certain adaptation strategies.

The methodology undertaken by SPC / SOPAC and the other project partners is to use the results obtained from the assessments and community workshops to develop an integrated approach; working with communities, documenting their livelihood strategies, local knowledge and their perception to analyse their vulnerability to environmental changes/natural disasters and to formulate strategies to adapt to these changes.

The solution will be implemented on the Island of Lifuka, Ha’apai Group, Tonga.

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) and the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance Program (PASAP) initiated the project in May 2009.  Funding provided under the, PASAP initiative allowed the development of the project and its implementation, commencing August 2011.

The project developed over time with the initial drive from the communities of Lifuka concerned over coastal erosion and inundation. PASAP in consultation with teh Government of Tonga was able to develop this concern into a project by engaging consultants from the University of Melbourne who developed a concept and framework for the project. PASAP in 2011 contacted SPC/SOPAC to assist with the implementation of the project, recognising their expertise in the delivery of this type of work.

 The Government of Tonga, Ministry of Lands Survey and the Environment, and Non Government Organisations such as the community focussed Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT) and the Ha’apai Development Committee (HDC)  works on the project at country and a community level respectively, with guidance and technical support  from SPC / SOPAC.

The solution considers that ultimately successful implementation lies in community ownership of the issue and developing skills within country and the community to address the issues. The solution has been designed to have community engagement throughout the life of the project and will deliver a costed plan which through focus groups and community meetings attempts to engage the community and thereby develop ownership which can be used by the people of Lifuka to approach donors and Government alike with funding proposals for implementation. 

The key question is how to successfully empower the communities of Lifuka to identify what options they may have to adapt to potential changes to their water resources and coast line due to coastal erosion and inundation. Through specific technical studies on erosion and inundation, community engagement through focus group meetings household surveys, and cost benefit analysis of the potential options the local community will develop understanding on the opportunities and risks associated with various strategies for adapting to these events.

• Integration across sectors including water resources, coastal processes, social engagement, and economic analysis to provide a more holistic approach which addresses community issues within one project
• Development of skills both within government and the community to address the issues of the impact of sea level rise and consider adaptation options acceptable to community which can be used in other situations

• Specific investigations on water resources which will link directly with other funding initiatives including UNDP Adaptation Fund Proposal and Tongas Strategic Plan for Climate Resilience (SPCR) to improve the water supply for the people of Lifuka.

Design of the project whereby the technical work is linked into the community participation provides a mechanism by which the community can be engaged in the local issues they face regarding water supply and water resource management as well as coastal inundation and erosion. This will support the active ownership of the issues and identify what can be done with regard to improved rainwater harvesting practices and groundwater abstraction at both the household and community level.

Key indicators include; 

• improved rainwater harvesting practices at the household level
• identification of protection zones restricting certain landuse activities around key abstraction sites
• improved well protection of ground water supply at the household level
• greater community engagement in the issues of improved water supply and coastal protection.
• development of skills within government, non government and community to address and monitor water resource issues
• improved abstraction practices by Tonga Water Board from the thin groundwater lens

Other low lying island nations and developments partners, donors would be interested in the solution because these countries face similar impacts of rising sea level on their water resources and coastal systems as Lifuka. 

This approach will work best where there is existing concerns by the community and where the approach is able to empower the community and develop the ownership of the issues and the solutions.  Further that technical issues associated with sea level rise and impacts on water resources are communicated and conveyed to lay people at an appropriate education level, and where local facilitators from national agencies and NGOs are trained to engage with communities to assist them in mapping out strategies which result in adoption of appropriated adaptation practices.

Up-scaling would require a strong and committed national counterpart or champion in the country as well as committed government with appropriate policy and institutional arrangements who are  actively promoting community engagement and ownership of the issues at a local level. Succesful implementation of the project including leveraging of other funds and initiatives from the project would also help develop the political will necessary to expand the project to other islands in Tonga and larger Pacific region.

It is important to ensure that the project has a strong and committed national counterpart. All information materials and project outcomes should be developed for the community to assist in ownership. It is also important to train a pool of dedicated local people and not just two or three individuals.

When implementing the project, it is important to let the national surveillance agency take the lead.  Projects must respect the local culture and when certain aspects are not acceptable these should not be forced on the local community.  It is also important to maintain an ongoing relationship with national surveillance counterparts rather than cutting off communications immediately after the training.

The minimum investment requires a dedicated PMU to drive the process, external experts to conduct the training, a motivated community and sufficient time to develop rapport and understanding within the community.

The success of the project will be embodied in empowered Lifuka community and their ability to make informed decision, trained locals who can effectively undertake monitoring of the water resources and coastal process and communicate information back to the communities. Similarly the integrated approach to address community concerns on water resources and coastal processes.

None to our knowledge.

Rhonda Robinson

Deputy Director Water and Sanitation Programme

SOPAC Division

Email: rhondar@sopac.org