Fiji: Vanishing coastlines

Serelisoni Moceica Fiji Times 20 Mar 11;

The villages of Nacula, Yaqeta and Bukama in the Yasawa Group have undergone coastal erosion because of the impact of climate change, according to the research team organised by the Department of Environment that recently conducted a one week baseline assessment of the islands.

University of the South Pacific's Dr Helen Jacot told Yaqeta villagers last week that the fringe beaches of the islands were slowly whittled away through coastal erosion.

"It is quite visible on the coast of Yaqeta Village that erosion has been going on for ages but lately the rate is higher because of the El Nino effects of climate change," she said.

According to Dr Jacot, village elders confirmed their coastlines had moved a few metres inland from their original sites.

Bukama Village also faces water problems and Dr Jacot recommended that more water tanks be put in place for the storing of rain water.

The team also found that the major climate change effect on Teci Village was frequent flooding.

Naushad Yakub from the Wild Life Foundation Society said the village had two sources of water from the spring and the dam that met at the same point and flooded during heavy rains.

The baseline assessment of the Yasawa Group was conducted at the beginning of March and recommendations from the assessment were yet to be finalised.