Community-based Adaptation, To Preserve The Original Site For The Vanua Lalagavesi Amid Climate-Related Disaster
‘There is still time, still hope, for the people of Vunisavisavi, our community does not plan to go down without a fight. We must be resilient, plant more trees and reduce the burning and cutting of trees. This is a special place, we will do everything we can to make sure our future generation have the same benefits that we enjoyed, growing up near the ocean on royal ground’ – Meredani Koco, Retired school teacher, resides at Vunisavisavi village.
Vunisavisavi is a village located in the Cakaudrove Province, Vanua Levu, Fiji second largest island. Historically, the village was the original birthplace of the Vanua Lalagavesi, to the Turaga na Tui Cakau (King of Cakaudrove).
Fiji is one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change and climate-related disasters. Climate change impacts such as sea level rise, extreme heat, changing weather patterns and changing of ecosystem, to name a few, have contributed to the impacts of disaster, creating that severe risk associated with consequences. These impacts have had a greater effect on the village of Vunisavisavi.
Flooding, sea level rise and extreme heat and poor planning of development continue to threaten the survival of the people and their environment. In terms of development, Mr. Ben Salacakau shared that the recent road construction project really diverted the nearby river to a nearby drain, and when it rains heavily the water overflows into the village area (Mateboto, 2023). Sea level rise has contributed to the intensification of flooding, leading to muddy areas in the village, saltwater intrusion and coastal inundation. Affecting the natural ecosystem, people’s livelihood and creating a lot of health issues and affecting the foundation of the Lalagavesi, which could lead to loss of place attachment. Ratu Aisake Lovobalavu, the village headman shared some of the experiences of the impacts of climate change that the village is currently enduring: ‘Some of the visible impacts that we have identified are the increasing high temperature, which have drastically changed compared to the past. Even when there is a cyclone, winds are stronger than usual, even the tide is extremely high, and other natural impacts that signifies climate change. Also, soil erosion, flooding and natural deforestation, hence, affects our plantation and agriculture which is one our main source of living. So, we have been currently facing a lot of negative impacts of climate change’.
Finance and infrastructure are an additional risk, which is currently limited in the village, as part of eradicating the ongoing impacts of climate-related disasters. The village has opted to create its sea wall by using sandbags, which are there for a limited time. Because its impact will continue to increase drastically as time goes by.
Irrespective of the severe consequences, that the people of this village had to endure every day. The government has initiated a plan for relocation using its relocation guidelines, for the safety of the people of Vunisavisavi. However, the people of Vunisavisavi impede the offer and opt to remain in the village, because it is their traditional duty given by their high chief to protect the original site of the Vanua Lalagavesi till death.
As part of carrying out their traditional duties in preserving the original site of Lalagavesi, the people of Vunisavisavi have initiated community-based adaptation. The robust knowledge-practice belief systems have allowed the communities to adapt to their surrounding environment to maintain sustainable livelihood over a longer period (Singh., et al, 2020). This adaptation strategy involves the Duavata approach, creating that gender balance to share equal responsibilities, mainstreaming traditional knowledge of ecosystem management, and extending collaboration with government and other development partners as part of providing financial and technical support.
Creating this community-based adaptation strategies will help embrace resilience, recover people’s livelihood, village setting, minimise the burden, increase the interconnectivity of the community and the environment and most importantly preserve the structure which was the original home of the Tui Cakau. As a result, this will protect their identity and they must pass this knowledge and practices to their next generation, as part of continuing its traditional duty in upholding and preserving this primaeval site.
