Download Analysis of factors affecting resilience towards climate

Analysis of factors affecting resilience towards climate
change on several islands in the Spermonde
Archipelago, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Sainab Husain a, Sebastian C.A. Ferse b, Marion Glaser b
aRegional
Development and Marine Management Study Program, Hasanuddin
University, Kampus Tamalanrea, Makassar 90245, Indonesia [email protected]
bLeibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Fahrenheitstr. 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Background: Global climate change impacts natural ecosystems, with
consequences for the livelihoods of people depending on these systems. Projected
impacts for coastal regions and small islands include sealevel rise, increased
erosion (Fig. 1), saltwater inundation, increased storm frequency and intensity, and
decrease in fisheries resources. Both anticipative and adaptive capacity can reduce
the negative impacts and vulnerability of coastal communities. To develop
resilience management, an understanding of factors contributing to communities‘
strength and resilience in the face of climate change is needed. Potential sources of
resilience include social capital, environmental awareness, availability of assets and
governmental support.
The objectives of the present study were to assess factors affecting the resilience
and adaptive capacity of small island communities in the face of climate change.
Methods: Four islands in the Spermonde Archipelago of South Sulawesi,
Indonesia (Fig. 2) were examined between March and July 2010. Islands were
selected to represent different administrative regions and different prevailing fishing
methods. At each island, 40 questionnaire interviews containing 51 questions were
conducted at household level. Each interview lasted between 1.5 and 2h.
Fig. 1: Erosion of many islands has
increased in recent years, causing
buildings to be washed into the sea.
Fig. 2: Map of the study area, showing the four islands
visited. The location within Indonesia is indicated by the inset
map.
Indicators of social resilience:
40
χ2=12.000, p=0.007
affected
not affected
35
30
25
20
15
40
χ2=132.514, p<0.0001
clear
clear, odorless, salty
clear, smelly, tasteless
murky, smelly, salty
35
30
Fig. 4: Quality of well
water on the four
research islands.
25
20
15
10
5
0
Awareness: 100% of respondents
reported
climate-related
environmental
changes;
the
perceived changes differed between
islands. However, only 1/3 of the
respondents thought that all island
inhabitants were aware of these
changes.
Badi
Bonetambung
Saugi
Barrang Caddi
Fig. 3: Number of respondents that have directly been affected by
erosion or flooding.
Exposure: 60% of respondents expected that
climate change will threaten their livelihoods, and
41% feared that it will affect their basic needs.
Two of the islands had no drinking water sources.
10-15 % of respondents on the other two islands
felt that climate change will affect their freshwater
sources. Water quality and the incidence of
erosion and flooding differed significantly
between islands (Figs. 3, 4).
For 66% of respondents, ecosystem
degradation led to reduced living 10
marine resources, and 36% saw it as
connected with erosion. Flooding was 5
mentioned on only one of the islands.
0
Badi
Bonetambung
Saugi
Barrang Caddi
Capacity to respond/Vulnerability: Water sources differ between islands – while Saugi relies almost exclusively
on local wells, Bonetambung drinking water comes from the mainland or neighboring islands. Only 25% of
respondents were able to envisage responding to erosion or flooding under current conditions. The most common
strategies were to live with relatives or to build a new house on the same island. Community organizations to deal
with disaster management existed only on Badi and Saugi. On only one island, almost half of the respondents
were aware of media or other efforts to communicate the risks of environmental impacts. On the other islands,
almost no one had heard of such efforts. On three islands, about half of the respondents stated there had been
natural resource management workshops for disaster risk reduction. On three islands, a large majority were aware
of external financial support programs. While accessibility to these programs differed significantly between islands,
about half of all respondents said they were easily accessible to all people in need.
Case examples:
A rich trader had already
bought
land
on
the
mainland and was planning
to move there should the
climate situation worsen.
(Barrang Caddi)
A 300 m breakwater was promised
by the government two years ago.
Only 80 m were constructed, but they
led to increased erosion elsewhere.
Construction has stopped since.
(Bonetambung)
In 2005, a desalinization plant was built by
assistance from Japan. It was hardly used. Not
long after construction, the building collapsed
due to erosion. Drinking water is brought from
the mainland at about 0.5 US$ per 20 liter.
(Barrang Caddi)
In the 1970s, the freshwater was still obtained
from the island aquifer. Since the 1980s,
rainy season not sufficient to replenish the
wells, and the water gets saltier – now, water
is
transported
from
the
mainland.
(Badi)
Implications for supporting adaptation strategies:
Climate change impacts are already felt throughout Spermonde, and are bound to increase.
Government support to help communities adapt to these impacts is urgently needed. Both exposure
and response capacity differ between islands. The reach of government programs varies by
administrative region. Most of the problems identified (e.g. water shortage, land loss due to erosion)
can not be resolved by the communities themselves, and the need for government support, e.g. in
the construction of breakwaters, was voiced by most respondents. Government interventions need
to be tailored to each specific island context, and should include solutions beyond the islands
themselves, as resources there have reached their limits (Fig. 5). Income alternatives to fisheries in
the face of worsening weather conditions (Fig. 6) and support for establishing new lives on the
mainland, i.e. by providing job training and housing support, should be considered.
Fig. 6: Increased intensity of wind
and waves threatens the fishers,
who use small boats for their fishing
trips in the archipelago.
Fig. 5: Aerial view of Barrang Caddi.
Every available piece of land is filled with
houses.