Climate change adaptation planning in remote contexts: insights from community based natural resource management and rural development initiatives in the Pacific Islands

Hidalgo, Marta R. and Nunn, Patrick D. and Beazley, Harriot and Sovinosalevu, Joji S. and Veitayaki, Joeli (2021) Climate change adaptation planning in remote contexts: insights from community based natural resource management and rural development initiatives in the Pacific Islands. Climate and Development, TBC . pp. 1-13. ISSN 1756-5529

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Abstract

Planned climate change adaptation initiatives are being developed with both external and endogenous resources at an increasing rate, especially in developing countries. As climate change continues to pose risks to vulnerable communities, there is a growing need to identify lessons learned in the process of planning and implementing climate change adaptation strategies. This is even more pressing for communities in remote contexts where access to resources and support services is limited. This study used thematic analysis to identify key insights from a 20-year old community-based resource management and development initiative on a remote island in Fiji. Four themes emerged relating to: perceptions of environmental change, links between conservation initiatives and people’s livelihoods, balance between external support and community-driven efforts, and the continuity of initiatives. Whilst acknowledging that every community in the Pacific has unique capacities for dealing with climate change, the four identified themes are considered applicable to other subsistence-dominated peripheral communities within Fiji, the Pacific Islands region and beyond. This has the potential to improve planning processes and ensure both continuity and efficacy of efforts towards supporting sustainable livelihoods in communities already experiencing the impacts of climate change.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Office of the DVC (ARC) > Alafua Campus Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > Institute of Applied Science
Depositing User:	Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited:	27 Jan 2021 02:11
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2021 02:11
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/12583

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