Ecosystem-based management: A Resilient Approach to Combat the Escalating impacts of Climate Change, in Gau Island
‘Vakarau ni se siga toka – meaning prepare while there is still daylight’ – Joeli Veitayaki, Malawai Villager.
Gau island is in the Lomaiviti province and is Fiji’s Fifth largest island. The island is considered a biodiversity hotspot, because of its unique ecosystem that involves a combination of fringing blue waters, with critical mangrove habitats that provides shelter to the different fish species and it has a diverse forest landscape which harbours the endangered bird which is known as the Kacau-ni- gau (Fiji Petrel) and other common bird species.
This unique biodiversity also plays a vital role in the interconnection between the people and their environment, creating Mana. Most importantly, providing and supporting the welfare of the people on the island. Despite such uniqueness, the island’s biodiversity is currently being threatened by climate change and climate-related disasters.
To get more evidence on this, the team conducted its survey in the three villages on the island:
Sawaieke: the chiefly village in Gau, with its traditional salutation is Nadawa vua na gone turaga na Takala-i-Gau (High Chief). It is the largest village in the Sawaieke District
Nawaikama: The third and second largest village in Sawaieke district. The ruling clan is Vuniutoloa, with its tribal leader known as the Gone turaga na Matanavure (Tribe leader). The village is famous for its hot spring, hosting the government jetty and Gau secondary school
Malawai: Is a small village located in the district of Vanuaso. The village icavuti (traditional salutation) is Nauluvatu vua na Gone turaga na Tui Malawai (High chief of Malawai).
Biodiversity involves all varieties of life on earth, that share a connection through a cycle or to simplify it in a meaningful manner, the circle of life. Presently, on the island of Gau, this once unique biodiversity is currently experiencing a sudden change or even worse in the brink of extinction. How is this happening and what is the cause of this, are the questions we may ask. Simple, climate change and anthropogenic activities.
Climate change is the alteration in the average or climate viability that persists over an extended period. This phenomenon results from various extensive anthropogenic activities. Surprisingly, the island of Gau is currently adapting rapidly towards anthropogenic activities, as part of development and sustaining their welfare. However, the people on the island are so much more adapted to such development progress, without realising the risk associated with consequences, and are a contributing factor towards changing climate.
This changing climate now persists in the form of anthropogenic climate, with sea level rise, land inundation, extreme heat, changing weather and many other associated impacts, that puts a lot of risk to the island’s biodiversity. Some of perceptions gathered from the three visited village on the island are:
Malawai Village: One of the elders shared his experience of the impacts of climate change, stating that; ‘There is an increase in hot weather temperature. Now rain has occasionally occurred. Before, there was a time for rain and a time for sunny weather, but now during the time for sunny weather rain usually pours down. It’s changing, there is no time for rain and there is no time for sunny weather, they can both occur at the same time’.
Sawaieke Village: One of the participants shared his sentiments on the climate-related disaster, highlighting that; ‘One of the obvious impacts of climate change is the salt-water intrusion in the village, before we would be able to see the limit of the shoreline, now there is saltwater intrusion into the village since the shoreline boundary have moved further up. As a barrier against the enormous tidal waves, the government built a sea wall along our coastline. However, as sea levels have begun to rise, sea water has begun to breach the sea wall and enter the village. This is one of the effects of climate change that we are currently experiencing. Another effect is erosion; by frequently removing trees and soil, they enable the streams in this area to transform from being shallow to deep, and we are unable to stop it. We are presently undergoing this period of change’.
Nawaikama Village: A community participant stated that; ‘Some staple food we notice that it has been affected by the rain, and the heat from the sun, like the Taro have reduce its sizes and have been over ripe, the cassava has become rigid, some fruits have turn white and also the flowering plants at most times does not blooms because of continuous rain’.
Additionally, the highlands in Gau Island which contains some of its native forest is an important bird area, especially for the Kacau-ni-Gau (Fiji Petrel) and other bird species. And imagine with the current anthropogenic climate that the island is enduring is even more severe and its projection is expected to increase in years to come. Which could result in either the migration of the bird species or even worse extinction.
Land submergence is also happening on the island, sea level rise is covering more land, especially burial grounds and other roads for accessibility. Therefore, the village communities have taken on board the higher ground initiatives, as a means of escaping from the impacts of climate change and prioritising the safety of its people.
As part of preserving and protecting the island’s biodiversity hotspot and eradicating the impacts of climate change and climate-related disasters, the LOMANI GAU initiative was initiated. This involves the partnership between the Japanese Government and universities, the University of the South Pacific and the local communities in Gau Island. The initiative mission is to articulate sustainable community-based development that meets the present and future needs of the people and the environment. Three key priorities have its area of focus, which are: Strengthening governance through planning and implementation of sustainable development, Protect and Enhance its natural environment and establishing commercial activities in harmony with the natural environment (Veitayaki, 2023).
This initiative is considered resilient and sustainable, because it brings a lot of positive changes and revive traditional conservation practices on the natural ecosystem and incorporate it with modern conservation practices, advocate and empower on inclusivity and balance, making sure that everyone takes part in its planning and implementation process. Also, it creates Duavata (unity) within the 16 villages on the island and allows every individual to take full responsibility for protecting its biodiversity. Because protecting its biodiversity will not only re-shape the relationship and/ or connection between the people and the environment, but it will also protect their identity and most importantly minimise the impacts of climate change and provide a better place for their future generation.
Indeed, development is happening rapidly and is the main culprit in diverting the choices and opinions of the people on the island of Gau, which could create more risk and impacts in relation to climate change. Therefore, more capacity building, financial and technical support, collaboration, partnership and research is still needed to continue empowering the mainstreaming of the LOMANI GAU initiative on the island in future.
