Jasmine Sila
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GEF/UNDP LDCF ( Least Developed Country Fund) – 2
Million USD – NHS,MAF,MNRE
4 Year project : 2009 – 2013
Project Goal :
To safeguard human development in Samoa from new and
additional risks associated with climate change.
Project Objective:
To increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of local
communities in Samoa to the adverse impacts of climate
change on agricultural production and public health
(i) Develop a Climate Early Warning System
(CLEWS) under the Meteorology component to
assist Agriculture and Health to better respond to the
impacts of climate change and to inform their
planning purposes;
(ii)Align cross sectoral approach on Health and
Agriculture with the Strategy for the Development of
Samoa 2008 – 2012;
(iii)Strengthen cross sectoral collaboration and
coordination between the agricultural / food security,
the National Health Service and Environment data
service.
Outcome 1:
• Enhanced technical and organization capabilities of the
Meteorology Division to monitor climate trends and provide
climate risk and early communications to the agricultural and
health sectors.
Outcome 2:
• Capacity of the agricultural sector improved to design
adaptive policies and perform short – term seasonal) and
long – term (decadal) agricultural planning and crop
management
Outcome 3:
• Capacity of the public health planners and public health
workers strengthened to reduce the impact of climate change
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58 Crop Maps each for Upolu and
Savaii;
Soil Resource Interpretative Manual
has been developed;
MAF now has a Geographical
Information System (GIS) purchased
under this project;
Contract for a GIS Consultant is
underway to conduct a GIS Training
for MAF staff;
Pilot sites for this project: Togitogiga
(wettest area), Asau (driest area),
Salailua (coast) and Nuu (control).
On these four different sites, 5
climate ready crops will be planted
to see if there really is an impact of
climate to the growth of these crops;
Draft Report of the Climate
Adaptation Strategy for the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
(CASAFF).
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Consultations have already been conducted
Currently in a Draft form
A national consultation will be conducted to
validate this document
Translated in Samoan, published and
launched
Mainstreamed into the Agriculture Sector
Plan
What is
happening?
How might this affect fisheries?
Rising air temperatures Reef-based fish species already near their thermal limits may
are resulting in higher
disappear; other species have some ability to adapt but average sizes
sea surface temperatures are expected to be smaller. Some large pelagic fish may be unable to
adapt, so some preferred fish species could disappear.
What adaptation measures?
These changes cannot be prevented so adaptation is possible only
by shifting commercial targets and consumers changing their
personal preferences. Expansion of pond aquaculture can help
offset declines in yield.
Individual fish will tend to grow faster, and to be shorter-lived; Local knowledge and observations will help monitor this sort of
breeding of some species will commence earlier and there could be a change, though its consequences cannot be fully understood at
mismatch between timing of
this time. Some adaptation is possible through aquaculture.
reproduction
and
best
conditions
for
larval
development.
Initial assessment is that skipjack tuna schools will not be adversely Monitor tuna climate change impact information as it is updated
impacted and, in the long term, possibly increase; however tuna and consider modifying oceanic fisheries operations and locations
habitat may be reduced where oxygen minimum zones expand.
to suit.
Coral bleaching
In some situations some coral replanting may be a practical way of
hastening reef recovery but the main measure will be to work with
others to reduce adverse impacts on reef health such as sediment
and pollutants, and to eliminate physical damage to reefs. FADs can
help to aggregate fish so as to ease the situation for
inshore
fishers
experiencing
decline in their
reef
fisheries. Establish fish reserves/marine protected areas to minimise
physical damage to coral reefs
More carbon dioxide
Positive expectations for skipjack tuna stocks in Samoan waters could be
No direct adaptation measure can be taken to prevent this sort of
dissolved in seawater
compromised if research establishes that recruitment is lowered by adverse
decline.
causes it to become
effect of increasing ocean acidity on fish larvae and on plankton.
more acidic
The capacity of corals and shell-forming species to deposit calcium carbonate If other impacts that damage coral reefs can be curbed (such as habitat
declines as seawater acidity
rises.
Weakened
damage, pollution, crown-of-thorns predation) this will help maintain reefcoral
reef
structures
are
more
based fisheries for longer until a new ecosystem achieves some form of
vulnerable to storm damage so a gradual decline in coral reefs, and the many balance. Nothing can be done to prevent this change except, perhaps, where
fish and other species associated
with
Sea level is rising
them,
is
anticipated
reef building species tolerant to
-
with
an
increase
in
lower
pH
are
identified
and
are
used
in
reef
herbivorous fish species.
rehabilitation/adjustment activities.
Inundation of coastal seagrass and mangrove habitat will reduce fish nursery
Compensate for habitat loss by actively encouraging inland extension of
areas.
seagrasses and mangroves - a difficult measure that will require cooperation
and understanding, and compromise, from affected persons and agencies.
Increased wet
More freshwater in estuaries and increased sediment carried into
Monitor adverse impacts on coastal fisheries and use the information in
season rainfall
estuaries and onto reefs.
coordination with efforts by crops, livestock and forestry to bring about
upstream management that minimises soil erosion. Management of water
catchments under customary land tenure also to be addressed through
Community Based Fisheries Management Committees.
The combined effects
Interactions of increased sea temperature and carbon dioxide, coupled with
Fisheries Division interaction with Community Based Fisheries Management
of climate change
expected changes in ocean circulation and changed pH are likely to bring
Committees provides a good basis for adaptive measures. Also, seek
about changes in larval dispersal and fish schooling.
guidance from computer based modelling/simulations that may assist in
understanding the changing patterns of dispersal and
schooling, and testing management measures to suit.
Outbreak of Crown of thorn starfish (COTS) as a result of increased
disturbance from more intense storms.
Through partnership arrangements with village communities and
other agencies collect and burn COTS and other control
measures.