ALM UNDP

Summary:

Samoa is an archipelago situated in the South Pacific, consisting of two large mountainous islands. Upolu and Savai’i, and seven other small ones. The economy is dependent on remittences, tourism, development aid and agricultural exports. The site of the project is Faitootai village situated on the leeward north coast of Upolu. The climate is typical of Samoa, marked by a distinct wet and warm season from November to April, and a less wet and cooler season from May to October. The project area encompasses two threatened ecosystems of global significance. The mangrove ecosystem is estimated to cover 2 hectacres and houses numerous fauna and flora. It also includes fresh water pools used for drinking, bathing and recreation. The coral reef ecosystem includes a lagoon and coral, fish and marine life habitats. A large percentage of the community depends on subsistence or semi-subsistence farming and fishing. Accordingly, reslidents rely heavily on these ecosystems for food, medicine and to generate income. The ecosystems also serve as natural barrier to storm surges during cyclones. Notwithstanding, they are subject to numerous climate change-induced threats. The village has reported that that mangroves are dying, coral bleaching events are becoming more common, and land is receding approximately 4 meters per year as a result of both climate hazards and baseline human development issues.

This CBA project seeks to improve the adaptive capacity and to reduce the vulnerability of Fasitootai’s mangrove and coral reef ecosystems to climate change risks associated with storm surges, sea level rise, tropical cyclones and flooding. It was formulated after recognition by the community of the severe impacts of climate change on local livelihoods and welfare. The scope of the work to be carried out is as follows:

• Designing and constructing shoreline protection to stablize the coastline
• Reclaiming 5,000 square meters that have been eroded away by the ocean through the planting of mangroves
• Renovating the three pools which are used for drinking, bathing and recreation
• Setting up a Special Management Area to protect mangroves and coral reefs

The project also includes an education component that helps raise the residents’ awareness and build their capacity on climate change. The knowledge acquired empowers the community with the skills needed to better understand and anticipate climate change impacts and how to protect their valuable and irreplaceable ecosystems. Altogether, these activities improve the resilience of Fasitootai’s ecosystems to climate change and reduce the community’s vulnerability to climate variability.

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