IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY A CASE STUDY FROM FIJI. Presentation Outline

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1 IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY A CASE STUDY FROM FIJI Prepared by Inoke Ratukalou. DLRPD, MASLR, Fiji - Facilitating Adaptation to Climate Change in the South Pacific Region Bridging Research, Policy and Implementation Workshop, Apia, Samoa, October,12th to 14th, Introduction Presentation Outline Country Background Climate Change Impact on Agriculture and Forestry Adaptation Programs Conclusion 1

2 Introduction Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. The vulnerability of agriculture and forestry resources to climate change is life threatening and made worse if we continue to mismanage this resources. Climate change poses an important responsibility for national and international organization to develop means to mitigate, adapt and respond to this phenomenon. Country Background The Land - Consists of 340 islands. -Total land area - 1,837,789 hectares(18,378 sq km). - Viti Levu - 10,388 sq km. - Vanua Levu 5535 sq km. The Geology - Geologically young country - Volcanic material and sedimentary rocks - Raised limestone reef and alluvial terraces The Soil Erodibility - Natural erosion rate is high because of youthful landscape 2

3 SLOPE GROUP Land Capability Classification LUC CLASS VITI LEVU VANUA LEVU Flat ( 0-3º) I 16% 15% Undulating to Rolling ( 4-15º) Steepland ( 16 +) II IV V -VIII 17% 67% 13% 72% Climate Fiji lies km South of the equator. South East Trade winds Mean monthly temperatures of 23ºC in July and 27ºC in January Mean annual rainfall- -windward side mm ( wet zone) -leeward side mm (dry zone) 3

4 Economy Narrow - based on sugar and tourism. Agri. - backbone of Fiji s economy, GDP contribution - 20% in 1970 s and 16% in 1990 s and 15.12% in Sugar remains- largest contributor to total Agri- Sector GDP contribution of 6.67% Total GDP contribution is pegged at 15.12%. After start - stop growth trend of 12.37% in 1998,13.16% in 1999 etc Value of Agri- Sector contributing to GDP in real value increased from $304,303,000 in1998 to $423,313,000 in Population Population at December,1996 was 772,655. Fijian comprising 51.1% Indo-Fijian 43.6% Rotumans, Chinese, etc. make up the rest 54% live in rural areas, migration to urban areas is significant. 40 years between 1956 and total population increased from 345, ,655. 4

5 Land Used for Agriculture and Forestry Agriculture 1. Between ( 40 years) land used for agriculture increased - 178, ,272 hectares. 2. Number of farms also increased - 242, 500 in 1968 to 591,407 in During the same period - average size of farms decreased from 7.2 ha. to 6.2 ha. Forestry 1. Indigenous Forestry 187,700 hectares 2. Plantation Forestry - 112,490 hectares 3. Protection Forestry 260,330 hectares Range of Land Use Location Economic Productive Sector Infrastructur e Energy Social Development URBAN RURAL Industry Commerce Retailing Financial Institutions Mining Towns Agriculture Forestry Minerals Tourism Agri-business Reclamation Transport Networks Sewerage Housing Airport Highways Roads Rubbish Dump Transport Networks Water Supplies Housing Airport Highway Power Generations and Distributions Power Generations and Distributions Education Health Recreation Education Health Recreations 5

6 Agriculture Sector The Sector contributes % to GDP and $400 million in foreign exchange annually from % of total land area suited to some form of agriculture 16% is suitable for sustainable arable farming. Actual land use reported in 1991 Agr Census: - 39% or 230,881 ha as being cropped land - 29% or 173,406 ha as being pastures and grazing land - 32% or 187,120 ha as being natural, planted forest and non- agriculture areas. - More arable land being converted to housing and industries - Agriculture has shifted towards the marginal to steep land as evident in the sugar cane growing area. Area of land-use type by division and province Division and Province Central Naitasiri Namosi Rewa Serua Tailevu Western Ba Nadroga/Navosa Ra Northern Bua Cakaudrove Macuata Eastern Kadavu Lau Lomaiviti Rotuma TOTAL Agricultu re 76,719 30,502 3,510 5,588 7,567 29, , , ,817 46, ,039 34,170 69, ,906 6,125 29,492 15,209 4, ,407 Planted Forest ,117 1, ,773 30,448 9,349 1,976 15,207 12,707 1, ,152 1,627 1, ,624 Source: National Agriculture Census, MAFF (1991) 38 Natural Forest 130,532 47,730 22,351 10,653 17,604 32, ,332 52,630 25,702 42, ,284 52,789 74, ,451 13,036 8,671 15, ,603 Nonagriculture 17,376 5,766 1,532 2,511 4,112 3, ,566 62,251 49,815 19,500 28,207 9,818 6, ,818 13,503 2,095 4, ,967 Total Land Area 228,150 85,115 28,500 19,223 29,321 65, , , , , , , , ,327 34,291 41,968 35,348 4,720 1,306,601 6

7 Forestry Sector Forest Sector contributes 2.5% GDP and $50million in foreign exchange annually Sector expected to earn $100million when mahogany forest will start to be logged & processed. Deforestation is moderate but intense. - Since ,000 to 14,000 ha. of native forest converted to non forest land use such as; - Large scale commercial agriculture etc - But its afforestation and re-afforestation program has been very successful - 43,680 ha. of pine plantation - 49,850 ha. of mahogany plantation - 47% of Fiji is forest covered. Fiji Forest Resources Production Forestry a) Indigenous Forest State Land Reserve Land State Lease Native Land Freehold Land b) Forest Plantations State Land Reserve Hardwood Corporation Plantation Hectares 187,700 5, ,340 13, ,490 5,180 6,080 49,850 % Fiji Pine Ltd. Plantation Private c)protection Forestry Protection Forest Mangrove Indigenous Logged Forest Total Forest Area Total Land Area 43,680 7, , ,310 18, , ,460 1,830,

8 Climate Change Impacts that Affects Agriculture and Forest Resources 1. Sea level rise. 2. Floods and drought 3. Seasonal variations- temp, rainfall and wind 4. Pests and diseases 5. Cyclones and hurricanes It threatens the food and income security - the very fabric of every day life of all the people in Fiji. Damages from Cyclones and Loss of Lives In Fiji Cylone Number of Lives lost Number of People Missing Damages (1998US$mil lion) Oscar Eric Storm Gavin Sina Joni Kina Gavin Total Cyclone Ami US$104 million 8

9 Major Drought- Related Damages and Expenditures for Drought of , Fiji ( F$1998-1,000) Item Sugar cane crop losses Sugar cane crop rehabilitation Food and water rations Weaning foods Food crop losses Crop re-establishment needs Welfare payments & income loss School children funding School water tanks and gardens Draft animals grass-starved Milk production decline( 50%) Farm drains and creeks Irrigation to re-establish sugarcane Boreholes for water supply Commercial forest Health and nutrition Macro impacts Fire damages Tourism Total Cost $125,000 $43,700 $33,000 $3,600 $15,000 $4,100 $75,000 $625 $1,500 $2,400 $10,980 $260 $40 $630 $80 $1, $313,935 + Bad Agriculture and Forestry Practices that Exacerbates Impacts of Climate Change Deforestation Logging Intensive sloping land cultivation with no conservation measures Intensive monoculture flat land cultivation Commercial livestock farming Reclamation of fresh water and mangrove swamps for rice cultivation. 9

10 Examples of Bad Land Use Practices DEFORESTATION LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY BURNING STEEP LAND GRAZING STEEP LAND AGRICULTURE SOIL EROSION ON STEEP LAND AGRICULTURE EXCESSIVE SOIL EROSION ON STEEP LAND SUGAR CANE FARMING On- Site Effect of Land Degradation Soil erosion Loss of plant nutrients- Soil fertility loss Reduction in soil depth Decrease in soil water holding capacity Loss of Biodiversity Increase in weeds, pest and disease infestation. 10

11 EXAMPLES OF ON SITE EFFECT OF LAND DEGRADATION DEFORESTATION AND LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY SOIL EROSION SOIL FERTILITY LOSS REDUCTION IN SOIL DEPTH DECREASE IN SOIL WATER HOLDING CAPACITY INCREASE PEST INFESTATION Off-Site Effect of Land Degradation Increased sedimentation in river systems Formation of mud banks Reduce navigability of the rivers High costs of dredging activities Flash floods during heavy rain Reduce water quality Destruction of fish spawning areas Loss of reef biodiversity 11

12 EXAMPLE OF OFF- SITE EFFECT OF LD SEDIMENTATION & FORMATION OF MUD BANKS REDUCE NAVIGABILITY OF THE RIVER DREDGING - COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FLASH FLOODING REDUCTION OF WATER QUALITY DESTRUCTION OF FISH SPAWNING AREA Soil loss in Rewa, Ba, Sigatoka & Nadi watersheds Watershed Soil loss Tons/ha/year Total soil loss Million tons/year Rewa Ba Sigatoka Nadi

13 Good Agriculture and Forestry Management Practices Adaptation and Mitigation. Intensive sloping land agriculture with contour cultivation, alley cropping with hedgerows, agroforestry, mulching etc Integrated flatland agriculture Integrated commercial livestock farming Sustainable logging Forest management plan. Afforestation and re-afforestation Example of Good Agriculture and Forestry Management Practices INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM ALLEY CROPPING RE AFFORESTATION MULCHING CONTOUR FARMING WITH HEDGE ROWS GRAZING UNDER COCONUTS 13

14 Current and Future Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Climate Change. National Development Strategic Plan. Environment Management Act.- Climate Change Policy Early Warning Systems Rural Land Use Policy. Amendment of Legislations such as LCIA. Geographical Information Systems analysis On farm soil loss research and extension programs Formation of Community Land Care groups (Qaravi ni qele ) Capacity Building -Awareness and training programs Sustainable Land and Forestry Management. Integrated Catchment Management. Policies and Legislation 14

15 GIS Analysis Analysis of land /forest resources for proposed use is vital for SLM/SFM. Research and Extension On - farm soil research on root crops such as ginger, dalo and cassava. Soil loss tons/ha/year. But with contours less than 5tons/per hec/year. Farmers field days to disseminate SLM/SFM information and share experiences on climate change issues. 15

16 Early Warning Systems Enhancement of Traditional Knowledge Capability Enhancement of Climate Change- Science and Technology Training & Awareness Farmer training on the use of new Technologies for SAM /SFM Participatory Rural Appraisal exercise with the farmers re- emphasizing the need to practice SAM/SFM and community empowerment 16

17 Capacity Building Human Resources in the areas of Climate Change, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Management and other science and technological areas are below critical mass in Fiji, therefore the need to enhance capacity building in these areas is vital. Contour cultivation & Agro-forestry Contour cultivation of Pineapples and other Crops. Reduce soil loss From 50 tons/hec/year to less than 5tons/hec/ Year. Agroforestry program- Dalo cultivation under erythrina/ drala ( 1997/98 drought 1.3-2kg dalo corm under erythrina and 0.9kg dalo corm on open space.) 17

18 Sustainable Forestry Management National Code of Logging Practice,1990 FOREST HAVESTING NATURAL FORESTS FOREST INVENTORY COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Integrated Watershed Management 18

19 Conclusion Agriculture and Forestry Resources Management in Fiji is a dynamic process which responds to market demand, political and social pressures, pests and diseases and natural calamities. The need to develop our human resources capability in the enhancement of traditional knowledge and address the new science and technologi cal development in the areas of climate change, agriculture and forest resources management etc is vital. The need to create synergies for the three UN Conventions ( UNFCC,UNCBD& UNCCD) to fully realise its opportunities and benefits is very important. Resources mobilisation amongst stakeholders is vital to be much more effective and efficient to mitigate, adapt and respond to climate change issues. There is a great need to empower communities to be able to make good informed decisions about sustainable resource use. The Government of Fiji is fully committed to its Global, Regional and National obligations to mitigate, adapt and responds to the climate change issues but needs its political will to move the process forward. A sustainablydeveloped and managed agriculture and forestry resources, will balance production and protection,enhance diversity and will leave an enhanced heritage for Fiji s future generations. VINAKA VAKALEVU 19