Small-scale projects

Caribbean

Indigenous People, Livelihoods and Climate Change: the Guyana and Suriname Perspectives

Lead scientist: Paulette Bynoe

This project will facilitate comparative research on ’Climate Change Impacts on Practices and Livelihoods of Local People’ in Guyana and Suriname. This research area is one of FORENET’s four thematic areas. The Suriname project intends to investigate traditional systems for recognising and predicting forest ecosystem alterations due to climatic variability. The main goals of the Guyana project are:

• To predict possible impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of indigenous peoples in Guyana by investigating their experiences with  short-term climatic variations
• To make visible their adaptation and coping strategies in response to those short-term climatic variations to share the lessons learnt, and to inform those advocating for contextual national climate change policies.

Specific objectives

• To characterise the socio-economic conditions of three spatially differentiated indigenous communities in Guyana and Suriname
• To compare the risk situation in the different geographical settings of the selected communities in both Guyana and Suriname by exploring the relationship between climatic variations and livelihood phenomenon
• To explore the vulnerabilities of the selected indigenous communities in Guyana and Suriname and their capacities to respond to the threats
• To investigate the forest ecosystems in the selected communities in both Suriname and Guyana to determine the extent to which ecosystem alterations due to climatic variations impact upon community livelihoods
• To investigate the adaptation strategies employed by the different groups in Guyana and Suriname to address the threats posed to their livelihoods by changing environmental conditions
• To highlight and disseminate lessons learnt so that similarly affected communities in Guyana, Suriname and elsewhere could benefit from the experiences

Pacific

Application of an integrated assessment and action methodology to develop a watershed management master plan for the sustainable management of natural resources and long-term protection and conservation of natural ecosystems within the Ba watershed in Viti Levu, the Fiji Islands.

Lead scientist: Leone Limalevu

The people of the Fiji Islands have lived a traditional, subsistence lifestyle with taboos and practices that have ensured the sustainability of resource use and culture. However, in a world that is becoming increasingly networked, globalised and Western knowledge-based, vulnerability and an inability to respond to these changes is increasing. The country’s small size, remoteness, fragile ecosystems and economies make this a very special case for environment and development practices.  Added to these challenges are threats from the impacts of climate change. In order to address these challenges, the country has embraced sustainable development as a pathway for the future by becoming party to various international and regional agreements. However, capacities needed to implement these agreements, strategies and action plans at community level are for the most part lacking in Fiji.

The western part of Viti Levu was struck by one of the most devasting floods in recorded history in January 2009. Damage to crops and infrastructure were estimated to be in the millions. One of the root causes of the extensive flooding was identified as the degradation of the physical, hydrological and ecological conditions of the watersheds. This disaster serves as a wake-up call to the Fiji government and all stakeholders that real action is required, since severe weather events induced by climate change are expected to increase. This research aims to formulate real and practical solutions related to watershed protection, specifically in the areas of natural resources protection and management and mitigation and adaptation to climate extremes and climate change.

The project uses applied research methods, including an integrated assessment and action methodology to facilitate community-based sustainable natural resources and development planning with the long-term goals of protecting, preserving and conserving the natural ecosystems and of achieving sustainable natural resource management within the Ba watershed.

In applying this methodology we would be able to acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of the various social, economic and environmental drivers of change and stresses on the natural resources and ecosystems within the watershed. After the literature review, the first planned activity is a mapping of natural resources. The aim of the resource mapping exercise is to accurately quantify and characterise existing natural resources within the Ba watershed. The second planned activity is to conduct a vulnerability and adaptation assessment of the project communities and the various sectors to internal and external stresses, including natural disasters and climate change. The third activity is to identify and critically assess adaptation options and facilitate the formulation of  adaptation plans to address internal and external stresses. This information will then inform communities as they draw up their own sustainable natural resources management and sustainable development plans. The information can also help the Government of Fiji formulate relevant policies such as a watershed management master plan for the Ba watershed. Wherever practicable or feasible, within the limits of the project funding, this research would also facilitate implementation of some of the identified activities.

Interactive keys to trees of Papua New Guinea

Lead scientist: Barry Conn

The interactive keys to tree species of PNG project is a continuation of the current project undertaken between PNGFRI and the Sydney Herbarium aimed at extending the interactive identification tools available for at least 2000 common trees of Papua New Guinea.

One of the major concerns facing the people of Papua New Guinea is their capacity to document the rich biodiversity of this country. The documentation of the flora of PNG still relies heavily on research efforts of non-Papua New Guinean scientists who workiprimarily outside the country. Experts estimate that Papua New Guinea harbours at least 2000  common tree species. Techniques for rapidly constructing identification tools for these species and the capacity to correct and to modify readily these keys, are urgently needed. The botanical research project will include field work, namely sampling and collecting tree species specimens, and herbarium work, for botanical identification and documentation.

The results of the project will enable in-country government departments, nongovernment agencies and education facilities to distinguish more readily the important trees species of Papua New Guinea. The descriptive and analytical information generated by this project will be immediately available via the PNGtrees website (http://www.pngplants.org/PNGtrees). The project will also develop the skills of junior botanical staff at the Papua New Guinea National Herbarium (LAE) as they participate in documenting the tree flora of Papua New Guinea.