Fijian Village Finds New Ways to Adapt Amidst Climate Change

Strategic Insights -

In the village of Nagigi, Fiji, the ocean is a vital part of the community's identity. However, in recent years, villagers have faced numerous challenges due to climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and declining fish stocks. While these changes have brought significant loss, the community has also demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. Women leaders have taken the initiative to launch an aquaculture project to diversify livelihoods and replant mangroves to slow coastal erosion. The community's responses draw on traditional social structures and values, such as respect for Vanua and collective decision-making through clans and elders.

Key Takeaways:

  • The village of Nagigi in Fiji has experienced significant changes due to climate change, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and declining fish stocks.
  • Women leaders have launched an aquaculture project to diversify livelihoods and replant mangroves to slow coastal erosion.
  • The community's responses draw on traditional social structures and values, such as respect for Vanua and collective decision-making through clans and elders.
  • Adaptation is unevenly spread, and not everyone has access to customary land for relocation and rebuilding damaged homes.
  • Small communities like Nagigi demonstrate their strength, agency, and ingenuity in the face of climate change and other threats.
  • The community's example shows that unwelcome changes are already arriving, but it's also about finding ways to live well amid uncertainty and escalating risk by using place, tradition, and community.
  • The village is considering declaring a locally-managed marine area to respond to climate impacts, damage to reefs, pollution, and overfishing.
  • The community has temporarily closed some customary fishing grounds to give fish populations a chance to recover.

Statistics:

  • The village of Nagigi has a population of 630 residents.
  • The village of Bia-I-Cake has a population of 60 residents.
  • Fishing and marine resources are central to the livelihoods and food security of both villages.
  • In 2021 and 2023, group discussions (known as talanoa) and interviews were conducted to gather information on changes seen and adaptations made by the villagers.
  • A small-scale aquaculture project has been launched to farm tilapia and carp to tackle falling fish stocks in the ocean and create new livelihoods.
  • The project has received support from the United Nations Development Programme and the Women's Fund Fiji.
  • The village has replanted mangroves to slow coastal erosion and built a greenhouse to farm new crops.

Sources:

  • The Conversation (Au and NZ)
  • As seas rise and fish decline, this Fijian village is finding new ways to adapt -- https://theconversation.com/as-seas-rise-and-fish-decline-this-fijian-village-is-finding-new-ways-to-adapt-261573