Featured Post

Tracking air pollution disparities -- daily -- from space

Studies have shown that pollution, whether from factories or traffic-snarled roads, disproportionately affects communities where economicall...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Samoa climate change resilience challenges Western perceptions



Samoa climate change resilience challenges Western perceptions

Dr Anita Latai-Niusulu interviewing a Samoan farmer. Credit: Dr Anita Latai-Niusulu


The resilience of Samoan communities in the face of climate change is providing a blueprint for other nations to follow, according to Samoa and Otago researchers.

It is one of the first studies to examine Samoa's grassroots ability to adapt to climate change, and its authors warn officials risk ignoring village expertise at their peril.


The newly-released paper is co-authored by Dr. Anita Latai-Niusulu from the National University of Samoa, and University of Otago Professors Tony Binns and Etienne Nel, both from the School of Geography.


The study, based on Dr. Latai-Niusulu's Ph.D. thesis, interviewed 165 residents in villages across Samoa's main islands Upolu and Savaii, including in coastal, inland, urban and .


More than 70 per cent of Samoa's population lives in 330 rural villages across Upolu and Savaii, and most of the country's infrastructure, population and development is near the coastline.


The researchers found villagers had a heightened awareness of climate change and noticed hotter days and longer dry spells, shorter periods of rainfall, stronger damaging winds, and sea level rise.


However rather than despairing at the prospect, villagers have developed a pragmatic and positive approach to impending climate changes.


Past natural disasters such as Cyclones Ofa and Val in the 1990s had a devastating effect on many communities, but the recovery period also brought opportunities for developing tighter social connections, new food supplies and infrastructural development and, in some cases, village relocation.


Professor Binns says the Samoan approach challenges general Western perceptions about Pacific nations' ability to respond to climate change.


He says exposure to serious environmental challenges has not made villagers 'fatalistic' or 'helpless', but instead has given them a more optimistic outlook on life.


The close-knit Samoan village structure, with a village council (fono) made up of chiefly title holders (matai) from extended family units throughout the village, means that each villager has a voice at the local decision table.


Communities also regularly meet together at evening prayers to share information and strengthen social networks.


This, along with the fact that more than 80 per cent of Samoa's land and resources are still collectively owned, means Samoans can engage in collaborative action against climate change.


Common strategies in all villages include diversifying food and water sources, being geographically mobile, having more than one place to live, and developing mental and spiritual strength.


"Such diverse livelihood portfolios and close community collaboration have generated an impressive level of resilience which communities elsewhere in the Pacific and beyond could well emulate," Professor Binns says.


However, the study found climate change decisions in Samoa are primarily occurring at a national level, and are dominated by the views of government workers, consultancy firms and civil society workers.


Officials need to listen to community expertise and develop a more nuanced understanding of each village's key concerns—which vary according each village's unique geographical challenges, Professor Binns says.


"Governments need to carefully reconsider their expenditure in relation to change adaptation, with perhaps less spending directed towards building seawalls and coastal roads.


"More support should be given to other adaptation initiatives such as , church and family activities that strengthen social networks and build social memory."


The study has been published in the Singapore Journal of Topical Geography.




Explore further



Hand-building dry toilets in Papua New Guinea's coastal villages to fight climate change impacts



More information:
Anita Latai‐Niusulu et al, Climate change and community resilience in Samoa, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography (2019). DOI: 10.1111/sjtg.12299








Citation:
Samoa climate change resilience challenges Western perceptions (2019, November 22)
retrieved 22 November 2019
from https://phys.org/news/2019-11-samoa-climate-resilience-western-perceptions.html



This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.








#Environment | https://sciencespies.com/environment/samoa-climate-change-resilience-challenges-western-perceptions/

No comments:

Post a Comment