Staff Details

Name: Lau Dr Viliamu Iese 

Email: viliamu.iese@unimelb.edu.au

Lau Dr. Viliamu Iese (Vili) was a Senior Lecturer – Disaster Risk Management at the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, at the University of the South Pacific (USP). Vili use to teach Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, Disaster Response and Recovery and Food Security and Climate change. He has conducted research and published widely in the field of risk resilience in agriculture, food security, climate change loss and damage, and evaluation of adaptations and risk reduction actions in Pacific Island Countries. Vili is a member of the Pacific Resilience Partnership Task Force. Vili is co-leading the USP research team for the 1) EU Horizon 2020 RISE project on Family Farming, Lifestyle and Health (FALAH); 2) ACIAR Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification (CASI); and 3) UK Research and Innovation grant for Intervention Co-creation to Improve Community-based Food Production and Household Nutrition in Small Island Developing States (ICoFaN).  Vili is the chairperson for the research pillar of the Pacific Soil Partnership. He is an expert reviewer for the IPCC WGII in AR5 and AR6. Vili is a Samoan by birth, Tuvaluan by citizenship and currently a resident of Fiji.

Teaching duties

PC431: Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience

PC432: Disaster Response and Recovery

PC423: Food Security and Climate Change

 

Journal articles

Begg, S.S., De Ramon N’Yeurt, A. & Iese, V. Integrated flood vulnerability assessment of villages in the Waimanu River Catchment in the South Pacific: the case of Viti Levu, Fiji. Reg Environ Change 21, 83 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01824-9

Guell, C., Brown, C.R., Iese, V., Navunicagi, O., Wairiu, M., Unwin, N. (2021) “We used to get food from the garden.” Understanding changing practices of local food production and consumption in small island states. Social Science & Medicine, 284 . p. 114214. ISSN 0277-9536

Iese, V., Kiem, A.S., Mariner, A., Malsale, P., Tofaeono, T., Kirono, D.G.C., Round, V., Heady, G., Tigona, R., Veisa, F., Posanau, L., Aiono, F., Haruhiru, A., Daphne, A., Vainikiolo, V., Iona, N. (2021) Historical and future drought impacts in the Pacific islands and atolls. Climatic Change. DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03112-1.

Iese, V., Wairiu, M., Hickey, G. M., Ugalde, D., Salili, D.H., Walenenea Jr, J., Tabe, T., Keremama, M., Teva, C., Navunicagi, O., Fesaitu, J., Tigona, R., Krishna, D., Sachan, H., Unwin, N., Guell, C., Haynes, E., Veisa, F., Vaike, L., Bird, Z., Ha’apio, M., Roko, N., Patolo, S., Dean, A. R., Kiran, S., Tikai, P., Tuiloma, J., Halavatau, S., Francis, J., Ward, A. C. (2021) Impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in Pacific Island countries (PICs): Evidence from communities in Fiji and Solomon Islands. Agricultural Systems, 190: 103099.

Haynes, E. H., Brown, C, Unwin, N., Augustus, E., Guell, C., Iese, V., Morrissey, F., Jia, L., Duvivier, P., Robers-Pierre, T. (2020) Interventions in small island developing states to improve diet, with a focus on the consumption of local, nutritious foods: a systematic review. PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020201274 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020201274

Guell, C., Brown, C., Iese, V., Navunicagi, O., Wairiu, M., Unwin, N. (2020) OP08 Understanding practices and challenges of (re-)localising food production and consumption in small Island developing states for better nutrition: a qualitative multi-site study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2020;74:A4.

Haynes, E., Bhagtani, D., Guell, C., IR Hambleton, V Iese, J Fesaitu, SE Benjamin-Neelon, NG Forouhi, N Unwin (2020) OP58 An investigation into the associations between socio-demographic factors, food sources and dietary quality in small island developing states. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 74: A27-A28.

Haynes, E., Bhagtani, D., Iese, V., Brown, C.R., Fesaitu, F., Hambleton, I., Badrie, N., Kroll, K., Guell, C., Brugulat-Panes, A., Saint Ville, A., Benjamin-Neelon, S.E., Foley, L., Samuels, T.A., Wairiu, M., Forouhi. N.G., Unwin, N. (2020) Food Sources and Dietary Quality in Small Island Developing States: Development of Methods and Policy Relevant Novel Survey Data from the Pacific and Caribbean. Nutrients, 12: 3350.

Iese, V., Holland, E., Wairiu, M., Havea, R., Patolo, S., Nishi, M., Hoponoa, T., Bourke, R. M., Dean, A., Waqainabete, L. 2018. Facing food security risks: The rise and rise of the sweet potato in the Pacific Islands. Global Food Security, 18: 48-56.

Charan, H., N’Yeurt, ADR., Iese, V., Chopin, T. 2017. Proceeding of 2nd International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate – ICEECC. Mauritius, July 5th – 7th .

Nand, M.M., Iese, V., Singh, U., Wairiu, M., Jokhan, A., Prakash, R. 2016. Evaluation of Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer SUBSTOR Potato Model (v4.5) under Tropical Conditions. South Pacific Journal of Natural Sciences.

N’Yeurt, ADR., Iese V. 2014. The proliferating brown alga Sargassum polycystum in Tuvalu, South Pacific: assessment of the bloom and applications to local agriculture and sustainable energy. Journal of Applied Phycology, ISSN 0921-8971, DOI 10.1007/s10811-014-0435-y.

Wairiu, M., Iese, V, Lal, M. 2011. Food production and climate change in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories. Journal of South Pacific Agriculture, Vol 15, No. 1&2, pp 110-121.

Moore, N., Benmazhar, H., Brent, K., Du, H., Iese, V., Kone, S., Luwesi, C., Scott, V., Smith, J., Talberg, A., Thompson, M., Zhuo, Z. 2015. Climate Engineering: Early Reflections on a Complex Conversation. Climate Law, Vol 5, pp 295 – 301.

Books and book chapters

Bird, Z., Wairiu, M., Jacot Des Combes, Iese, V (2021) Religious and Cultural-Spiritual Attributions of Climate-Driven Changes on Food Production: A Case Study from North Malaita, Solomon Islands. In Luetz, J.M., Nunn, P.D. (eds) Beyond Belief: Opportunities for Faith-Engaged Approaches to Climate-Change Adaptation in the Pacific Islands. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021. Springer, Cham.

Wairiu, M., Iese, V., Navunicagi, O., Fesaitu, J., Salili, D., Tabe, T., Keremama, M., Tigona, R., Veisa, F., Walelenea, J. J., Teva, C., Ha’apio, M., Vaike, L., Bird, Z., Roko, N., Vilsoni-Raduva, M., Francis, J., Haynes, E., Kiran, S., … Ward, C. . (2020). Assessing nutrition and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Rural and Urban Communities in Fiji. The University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

Wairiu, M., Iese, V., Walelenea, J. J., Teva, C., Ha’apio, M., Keremama, M., Navunicagi, O., Fesaitu, J., Salili, D., Tabe, T., Tigona, R., Veisa, F., Vaike, L., Bird, Z., Roko, N., Vilsoni-Raduva, M., Francis, J., Haynes, E., Tikai, P., … Ward, A. C. (2020). Assessing nutritional and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on rural and urban communities in Solomon Islands. The University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

Iese, V., Halavatau, S., N’Yeurt, A. D. R., Wairiu, M., Holland, E., Dean, A., Veisa, F., Patolo, S., Havea, R., Bosenaqali, S., Navunicagi, O. 2020. Agriculture in a Changing Climate. In L. Kumar (ed.), Climate Change and Impacts in the Pacific, Springer Climate. Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32878-8_9

Nunn, P.D., McLean, R., Dean, A., Fong, T., Iese, V., Katonivualiki, M., Klock, C., Korovulavula, I., Kumar, R., Tabe, T. 2020. Adaptation to Climate change: Contemporary Challenges and Perspectives. In Kumar, L (ed) Climate change and impacts in the Pacific. Springer Climate. Springer Nature Switzerlan AG 2020.

Baptiste, L., Iese, V., Gordon, V., Bailey, A., Persaud, N., Nicholson, C., Dean, A. R., Wairiu, M., Navunicagi, O., Tarai, J., Teva, C. P. 2019. The transformative agenda for evaluation in Small Island Developing States: The Caribbean and the Pacific. In Rob D. van den Berg, Cristina Magro, and Silvia Salinas Mulder (eds). 2019. Evaluation for Transformational Change: Opportunities and Challenges for the Sustainable Development Goals. IDEAS, Exeter, UK.

Iese, V., Halavatau, S., N’Yeurt, A. D. R., Wairiu, M., Holland, E., Dean, A., Veisa, F., Patolo, S., Havea, R., Bosenaqali, S., Navunicagi, O. 2019. Agriculture Under a Changing Climate. In L. Kumar (ed.), Climate Change and Impacts in the Pacific, Springer Climate. Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32878-8_9

Iese V, Paeniu L, Pouvalu S. I. F., Tuisavusavu A, Bosenaqali S, Wairiu M, Nand M, Maitava K, Jacot Des Combes H, Chute K, Apis-Overhoff L, Veisa F and Devi A. 2015. Food Security: Best Practices from the Pacific. Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD). The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

Paeniu L, Iese V, Jacot Des Combes H, De Ramon N’Yeurt A, Korovulavula I, Koroi A, Sharma P, Hobgood N, Chung K and Devi A. 2015. Coastal Protection: Best Practices from the Pacific. Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD). The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

Iese, V., Maeke, J, Holland, E., Wairiu, M., Naidu, S. 2014. Farming adaptations to the impacts of climate change and extreme events in Pacific Island Countries: Case study of Bellona atoll, Solomon Islands. In Ganpat, W.G and Isaac, W. P (eds) Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in Small Island Developing States. IGI Global.

N’Yeurt, ADR., Iese, V. 2014. Sustainable agro-fertilizers from marine plants in Pacific SIDS. In Ganpat, W.G and Isaac, W. P (eds) Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security in Small Island Developing States. IGI Global.

Jacot des Combes, H., Hemstock, S., Holland, E., Iese, V. 2014. Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction at Local Level. In Qalo, R (ed) Pacific Voices: local government and climate change. Suva, Fiji. USP Press.

Wairiu, M., Lal, M., Iese, V. 2012. Climate change implications on Food Production in Pacific Islands Region. In Aladjadjiyan, A (ed) Food Production – Approaches, Challenges and Tasks, ISBN 978-953-307-887-8, InTech, January 1, 2012.

Iese,V., Miller, C. 2011. Whales of the Pacific. In Brakes, P and Simmonds, M (eds) Whales and Dolphins cognition, culture, conservation and human perceptions. Earthscan, London.

Theses

Iese, V. 2021. How can we rise above the normal? Transforming agriculture in the Pacific to increase resilience under a changing climate. PhD Thesis, USP.

Iese, V. 2005. Characterization of the giant swamp taro (Cyrtoperma chamissonis) using morphological features, genetic fingerprinting and traditional knowledge of farmers in the Pacific. MSc Thesis, USP.

Policy Briefs

Iese, V., Wairiu, M., Fesaitu, J., Teva, C., Navunicagi, O., Unwin, N., Haynes, E., Guell, C., Francis, J (2020) Building the evidence base on community food production initiatives in Pacific Island Countries. CTA Technical Brief 34. https://www.innov4agpacific.net/resource/technical-brief-building-the-evidence-base-on-community-food-production-initiatives-in-pacific-island-countries/

Holland, E.A. Iese, V., Yuen, L., Wairiu, M. 2018. Ocean Cities of the Pacific Islands. Policy Brief #1. The Ocean and the City. UNESCAP.

Holland, E.A. Iese, V., Nand, M., Wairiu, M. 2018. Ocean Cities of the Pacific Islands. Policy Brief #2. Re-naturing urbanization. UNESCAP.

Holland, E.A., Iese, V., Sallili, D., Wairiu, M. 2018. Ocean Cities of the Pacific Islands. Policy Brief #3.

Supervision (ongoing)

Otto Navunicagi – The impacts of community food production initiatives on community food security resilience: Case studies from Western Vitilevu, Fiji (MSc Climate Change, Full Thesis).

Roslyn Nand – Integrating gender equity in small-scale fisheries to improve food security and resilience in Fiji communities.

Barnabas Koroa – Integrating nature-based solutions into disaster risk management and adaptation planning and implementation in Solomon Islands.

Salote Nasalo – Assessing the Management of Natural, Mixed and Managed Mangrove Systems in Fiji – Case Study of Nasese Seawall (Suva) and Saweni Beach (Lautoka)

Zina Bird – Impact of Temperature Increase on Yield of Taro and Sweet-Potato: Implications for Household Diet in Malaita, Solomon Islands (PhD Climate Change, Full Thesis)

Jyoti Mala Prasad – Ecosystem-based Adaptation Practices for Food Security and Livelihood in Fiji and Vanuatu. (PhD Climate Change, Full Thesis)

Supervision (graduated)

2013  Gareth Quitty – Assessing the ecological impacts of climate change on root crop production in high islands: A case study in Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands. (MSc Climate Change – USP)

2014  Joseph Maeke – Vulnerability and impacts of climate change on food crops in raised atoll communities: A case study of Bellona Community in Solomon Islands. (MSc Climate Change – USP)

2014  Moleen Nand – Evaluate the impacts of climate change and climate variability on potato production in Fiji.(MSc Climate Change – USP)

2015  Mataio Tekinene – An assessment of the impacts of climate change on cultivated pulaka (cyrtosperma 
chamissonis) in Tuvalu. (MSc Climate Change – USP)

2017  Kevin Peter Marc Maitava – Assessing the impacts of climate change on urban and peri-urban home gardening and the role of home gardening in adaptation and building resilience against climate change in Fiji. (MSc Climate Change – USP)

2018 Ame Tuisavusavu – Analysis of traditional farming practices in Vanua Levu and implication for building resilience for local communities adapting to climate change (MSc Climate Change, Full Thesis).

2019 Jyoti Mala Prasad – The impact of weather patterns on rice production in Rewa and Seqaqa in Fiji Islands. (MSc Climate Change, Full Thesis).

2019 Sarah Hannah-Beth Iamonama Griffin – Evaluation of biogas and fertilizer by-products through experimental anaerobic digestion of Acanthaster planci (Crown of Thorn Starfish) biomass (MSc Climate Change, Full Thesis).

2019 Catherine Soreh – Assessing the effects of solid and liquid seaweed fertilizers on selected agricultural crops (MSc Climate Change, Full Thesis).

2020 Chris Teva – Evaluating the effectiveness of climate change adaptation interventions on food security in Solomon Islands (MSc Climate Change, Full Thesis).

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