Milne Bay includes climate change in plan

THE Milne Bay administration will submit an economic development plan to include climate change to accelerate its provincial economic growth and development next year for implementation.
A second consultation workshop organised by the provincial planning and coordination division, the Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD) was held in the province.
According to provincial planner Taeva Tararau, the plan will consider including adaptation and mitigation strategies to address food security and fresh water supply among other issues. 
He said mangrove planting along the coastline was important to reduce impacts of rising sea level, coastal flooding and loss in agricultural yields currently evident in the Trobriand Islands.  
“The administration is working towards ensuring a broad-based participation and ownership,” he said.
Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs, donor agencies, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, local business owners and the civil society actively held discussions on topics related to climate change and economic development.
The workshop was to look into how  economic assets could be protected from the effects of changing weather patterns, to develop sustainable low carbon development projects and to adopt alternative livelihood practices feasible at the community level.