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Coral reefs and mangroves vital for islanders
APIA: The Secretariat of the Pacific
Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has called on its members
to strengthen the conservation of coral reefs and mangroves to
improve adaptation to climate change.
The director of SPREP Asterio Takesy said healthy coral reefs and
mangroves would reduce Pacific islands’ vulnerability to the
effects of climate change including sea level rise and storm
surges.
“For centuries, these natural systems have acted as buffers to
protect Pacific islands. As we start to see the effects of climate
change, it is urgent that we return these natural systems to a
healthy state,” Takesy said. “The stronger our coral reefs and
mangroves, the more resistant they are to the effects of climate
change.”
World Environment Day celebrations taking place around the world
aim to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on
ice-caps, and the subsequent events such as sea-level rise, which
will affect low-lying islands.
Some of the effects of climate change include loss of coastal
land, more intense cyclones and droughts, failure of subsistence
crops and coastal fisheries, loss of coral reefs, and the spread
of disease.
The Pacific’s theme is ‘Strong Islands. Strong Future’
highlighting the importance of strengthening coral reefs and
mangroves against the effects of climate change.
Takesy believed that collaboration and cooperation across sectors
and agencies was crucial to support adaptation measures.
As part of Samoa’s World Environment Day activities, SPREP with
key partners, is facilitating a clean-up and replanting of 500
mangroves as part of Samoa’s National Adaptation Programme of
Action (NAPA). Identified as a key action under Napa, the clean-up
and replanting will strengthen existing mangroves in a bid to
reduce the effects of climate change.
Although Pacific island countries have contributed to less than
0.01% of global greenhouse gas emissions, they will be among the
worst affected by climate change. In addition, there is also a
need for firm commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
around the world.
What causes climate change? Energy and heat on Earth comes from
the sun. Some of this heat is absorbed by the Earth’s surface, and
the remainder is reflected off the surface and away from Earth.
Some of this heat is trapped by the atmosphere, a blanket of gases
surrounding the Earth. By trapping this heat, the atmosphere
ensures that humans, plants and animals are able to live on Earth.
This is called the Natural Greenhouse Effect. If the energy was
not trapped in the atmosphere, then the Earth would be too cold
for anything to survive.
The gases that make up the atmosphere are called Greenhouse Gases
(GHGs). A main GHG is carbon dioxide, created by burning fossil
fuels (oil, coal, etc). We burn fossil fuels to produce materials,
electricity, and to drive our cars.
What is also happening is that we are removing too many plants and
trees that help to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Trees store carbon in their trunks.
Humans are creating too much GHGs, and cutting down too many
trees. In the past 100 years, we have been putting too much GHGs
into the atmosphere, making it thicker, and therefore trapping
more heat. This in turn is making the Earth hotter.
Warmer temperatures on Earth cause:
1. Ice-caps to melt;
2. Oceans to expand (thermal expansion of water);
3. Rise in sea temperature;
4. Level of seas to rise; and
5. Extreme weather events.
This will result in:
1. Loss of land and coastal infrastructure;
2. More intense cyclones and droughts;
3. Failure of subsistence crops and coastal fisheries
4. Loss of coral reefs; and
5. Spread of disease
This will greatly affect the sustainable development of Pacific
island countries and territories if adaptation measures are not
integrated into national planning methods and strategies.
There is also a need to encourage greater collaboration and
partnerships to strengthen the cultural and social capital of
Pacific communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change. –
Pacnews
 
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