Community farmers have expressed many factors related to climatic conditions as having impacts on food and agro forestry systems.
1. There is currently a low diversity of root crops, vegetables and fruit trees across all communities of Roviana Vonavona. It was determined that there was a higher turnover of crop varieties, no proper stocking methodology
2. Jansen et al (2006) stated that diversifying crops and increase variety as traditionally practiced is an adaptive means to reduce risks and meet multiple family needs.
3. Land shortage was continuously mentioned as an important issue. Land shortage for planting, repeated use of garden areas and bad agricultural practices such as slash and burn farming method has contributed to higher soil erosion and degradation. Currently, there are no proper ways of improving soil management process or introducing new adaptation technology to improve soil nutrients. Enhancing soil nutrients through legumes and simple organic practice is an important practice that was trialed in two villages, Buni and Baraulu. Associated with increase population growth, gardening land is now used for new homes making less land available for gardens. Fallow periods decreases from fifteen to ten years (Woodley 2002, Jansen 2006, Ministry of Environment Conservation and Meteorology 2008) to two years as found in Baraulu and well documented in Vella Lavella as well.
Figure 124 Roviana issues related to climate change vulnerability
4. Sea level rise has been identified as an important concern for coastal and barrier Islands communities. Coastal gardens have been noted as prone to sea level rise or salt winds with high waves. As mentioned during the research in Nusa Hope, cassava is sweeter after the tsunami in 2007, whilst elsewhere in the lagoon, gardens were flooded with saltwater and other infrastructure
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Building social and ecological resilience to climate change in Roviana, Solomon Islands
damaged. Another scenario of such was the severe sea swells in December 2008 affecting other parts of the Solomon Islands such as the Ontong Java atolls. Such could be disastrous to low lying islands of Vonavona and Roviana.
5. As more people have access to money, families are becoming highly dependent on imported food.
The main staple in families' diet is rice, taiyo and noodle. It was mentioned that imported food products are readily available and easier to prepare than subsistence food sources, thus more families prefer imported goods, see detailed in annex 3 reasons for food source preferences and ranking. Jansen et al (2006) highlighted the changing diets as associated with social status, though nutritional were considered unhealthy.
6. Extreme weather patterns were mentioned during the research as being 'currently experienced'.
Periods of long dry hot seasons and wet seasons have impacted the agro forestry systems in communities. Crops/cultivars are not able to cope with prolong dry and hot periods. This is in contrast to wet periods, when there is good growth but less productivity. At other times, food gardens were flooded. This has contributed to people becoming economically vulnerable and less food secure.
7. Pests and diseases on planted cultivars and crops are increasing and these were observed outside the normal seasons when they are usually present. Pest and diseases contributed to destruction of crops and growth, resulting in reduction of yield. Increase prevalence of pest and diseases exacerbate the impacts that extreme weather had on crop growth and production. Destruction of leafs, tubers and corms of crops resulted in families having less for consumption or income generation.
8. Population increase is a concern of communities across the Roviana Vonavona region. This was mentioned by the communities living on Barrier Islands. As there are more people, the villages were increasingly overcrowded. The need for more land to build homes and new gardens is having increased pressure on natural resources. Lack of proper sanitation is a separate issue identified and linked with population increase. This is an important issue considering increasing wet weather patterns and possibility of well water contamination.
9. Low soil fertility was mentioned to negatively affect farming. Reduced soil fertility has resulted from the slash and burn farming method. This method leaves soil exposed to sun and rain resulting in nutrient rich top soil being washed away during heavy rain. The burning of bush during land clearings has contributed to the destruction of the micro-organisms. This has reduced the fertility of soil and agricultural production. With the current trend of increase rain and sun intensity, top fertile soil is exposed to erosion; the ability of soil to retain moisture for good plant growth is reduced.
Other threat that has contributed to stress on the agro forestry sector is the introduction of commercial trees. This includes teak, oil palm, cocoa etc. These trees needed more land space, and increase pressure on land availability. Communities in the area of the study have agro teak plantations and are venturing into cocoa (cacao) farming. Whilst in Bulelavata, there is a trial in oil palm planting.
Unsustainable resources harvesting has been mentioned as a threat which may leave people vulnerable to climate change. Currently, there is intensive large scale logging on Barrier Island and some areas in the mainland of New Georgia. . Marine resources are commonly harvested by resource owners and non – resources owners increasing the pressure on marine resources.
Chapter 7 Horticulture & agroforestry vulnerability assessment
If not properly planned, major national development such as large clearing for the Munda international airport construction and resettlement, can have aggravated consequences on local residence, such as financial burden such activities can have on the entire families relocated. Other development and sanitation related issues, such as no proper rubbish dumps, can contaminate water wells and pose health hazards to urban population as the environment faces increase climatic events in the near future.
F
OOD SOURCES INR
OVIANAV
ONAVONAGardens, coastal, sea resources and small canteens or stores were mentioned during the research as main sources of food, refer to annex 3. Most of the food consumed by families is from garden production or collection from natural resources. An interesting shift in food consumption is the reliance on manufactured food products. It was mentioned that there are wild forest foods that sometimes people rely on, as more common food sources decline, but manufactured foods are now the preference and gathering wild sources is no longer practiced.
Table 40 Current Agroforestry cropping found in the Roviana Vonavona Region; ranking of food availability and uses were in annex3.
Currently Observed Food Crops Currently Observed Vegetables
Current Observed Fruit trees
Cassava, kongkong taro, Banana currently preferred by most villages, pumpkin, chilli paper, tomato ,beans were popular crops in were traditional staple crops with reduced presence in gardens
Rice, Taiyo, noodle, biscuits, coffee mix and other food stuff were ranked important for family use, availability and easy access.
Main crop varieties in gardens were cassava, potato, banana, kongkong taro, taro, pana, yam, etc.
Preferred cultivar or staple food was cassava, banana and kongkong taro. These cultivars were preferred due to it high yield production quality and ability to grow any soil type and condition. Vegetables identified were slippery cabbage, Chinese cabbage, beans, tomato, lettuce etc.
G
ENERAL CONDITIONS OF COASTAL TERRESTRIAL GARDENS&
FORESTThe slash and burn farming methodology is continuously practiced across the study site. The process includes cutting down of forested areas, clearing of bushes by burning, hoeing, planting and harvesting. The general practice is simple and described as 'an extensive low input non – permanent agro forestry (shifting
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Building social and ecological resilience to climate change in Roviana, Solomon Islands
cultivation) intercropping deliberately combining selected crops and agriculture crop (predominately root crops) for short term productivity' (FAO 2010b).
Farming technology is simple with basic tools such as axe, knifes, hoes or mattocks. Gardening information and cultivars is shared between farmers. It was evident that there is lack of understanding of pest and diseases as some planting materials /cultivars had diseases and pests present. Soil degradation, which results in low nutrient content, was evident in gardens in the research site. This included the erosion of nutrient rich top soil either by heavy rain or burning, resulting in poor growth of crops.
Gardens generally have low diversity of crops; some farmers have only one or two crops planted in gardens. Although participants mentioned that there are abundant variety of crops in gardens. Stocking of cultivars and good planting materials were found to be areas that needed addressing. Most farmers preferred to plant crops that can perform well in any weather condition or soil type.
G
ENERAL TREND IN AGRO FORESTRY AND COASTAL RESOURCESThe general trend in the research site is: current gardens and other resources were exposed to changes of climatic conditions such as extreme dry and wet conditions; increase prevalence of pest and diseases; land degradation; low nutrient content in soil resulting low yield production and reduced fallow period for gardening.
Yield from garden were continuously reduced and farmers tend to prefer planting crop varieties that increase yield production in any weather condition or soil type. Farming practices is mainly slash and burn method with focus in food production for immediate benefit, without any longer term considerations.
Families increase their reliance on imported food products as they are easy to prepare and access. Coastal forestry caters for log ponds or cash cropping plantations such as coconuts.
Coastal terrestrial played an important role in the Agroforestry and community wellbeing. Mangroves and coastal vegetation in particular provide “free” ecological services, with functions such as wind breakers, mitigate floods, cyclones and strong winds, tsunami (tidal waves), breeding ground and safe haven for fish and other marine resources, protect and stabilize coastlines.
K
NOWLEDGEG
APSIt was identified during the research that there are serious issues with agro forestry. Information, knowledge, skills and technology are needed to develop capacity of farmers. There is a need for organizations to help improve the current knowledge and practice of farming. The following points below were observed to be important areas to develop capacity and manage resources sustainably.
Leverage knowledge through information, skills and technology. Currently farming practices are partially traditional in practice. Community farmers currently continue to practice slash and burn farming techniques, using simple tools such as hoes, knives or axe. Adaptation farming technologies are important innovations that needed to be shared with communities for example. This includes the introduction of salt tolerant crops or improving soil nutrient content. It is important that training considers gender. Women play an important role in farming, though at times lack knowledge to improve their farming techniques.
Capacity development in pest and disease identification and eradication. It was found in this study, that pest and diseases were present on cultivars or crop cuttings. Banana rash were found to
Chapter 7 Horticulture & agroforestry vulnerability assessment
However, there is little community knowledge of pest and diseases identification or ways to reduce or eradicate current pest and diseases.
Stocking of cultivars, gene and seed bank training has been identified as skills needed to maintain cultivars or crop stocks. This training needs to be accessible within each family. It was found that crop turnover is very high especially with potato. There is a need for training on seed and gene bank development; this knowledge will help planning for the future through stocking planting material. Deliberate tree planting for economic and ecological benefits needs to be encouraged.
Current fruit trees observed were old and productivity level is low.
Loss of traditional wild bush food knowledge and skills. It was mentioned during the research that wild bush food exist and that they were sometimes used in hunger periods. The knowledge and skills to process wild bush food is slowly being lost, and even the tree species are starting to disappear. Documentation of such knowledge is very important for younger generations of the Roviana Vonavona region. It is important that terrestrial areas with wild bush food be conserved as a disaster preparedness mechanism.
O
PPORTUNITIES/
WAYS FORWARDWith the current status of agro forestry in the Roviana Vonavona region, it is imminent that adaptive mechanisms are put in place to better equip people with knowledge, skills and technologies to deal with change. Issues identified in this research were important areas of focus for any organization and the Roviana Conservation Foundation (RCF) to focus on working to improve or develop capacity of its members.
I
NCREASE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVELSTARTING FROM WHERE THE COMMUNITY ARE AT – Communities have an abundance of skills, knowledge and farming techniques which needed to be harnessed and improved. Any adaptation work should be localized, use what the people already know and improve (build on) the knowledge to fit into changing situations. There should be limited introduction of appropriate technology where there is imminent need or cheaper for rural usage.
COMMUNITY INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION – It is appropriate to improve capacity of project beneficiaries through an inclusive participatory approach. Men, women and young people (or the family unit) is an important component in the agro forestry development. There should be equal participation and learning to empower each group of people in adapting to impacts of climate change.
I
NCREASE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT WITH ANO
RGANIZATIONAL FOCUSCROSS SECTORIAL BRIDGING – Climate change is not a standalone issue that only requires a climatic approach. There are other issues associated which aggravate the impacts of climate change. During the research it was found that health and nutrition is an important issue which villagers are experiencing.
It is important that the Roviana Conservation Foundation (RCF) to develop partnerships with technical organizations within the country to deliver information and skills within the agro forestry sector. Food and nutrition are important aspect of indicators that inform decision makers about the status of community health.
Potential partners could be Government organizations such as, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of climate change environment and meteorology, climate change division. The Kastom
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Building social and ecological resilience to climate change in Roviana, Solomon Islands
Gaden Association (KGA) could be an appropriate partner in developing appropriate farming techniques and technology to improve livelihood.
I
NTRODUCTIONThis chapter focusses on understanding vulnerability of horticulture and agro forestry systems in Roviana to climate change. The key objectives of the research in detail are as follows;
Survey and document conditions of terrestrial coastal gardens and forests and document factors that are increasing vulnerability to climate change.
Assess, and where possible map, threats (including trends) and areas that are particularly vulnerable or resilient to climate change (and why)
Identify trends and identify food sources/species/cultivars considered most likely to be most at risk to climate change and suggest options for community response, including possible insights for future monitoring of climate change.