Enhancing Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in the Marshall Islands

1. Ecosystem Based Adaptation in the Marshall Islands Policy & Practice Deborah Barker-Manase, Deputy Director Office of Environmental Planning and Policy Coordination (OEPPC) oeppcrmi@ntamar.net, deb.manase@gmail.com

2. Overview • Introduction-Marshall Islands • Background & context • Climate-proofing conservation area planning process • Community based adaptation projects

3. Introduction & General Background • 29 low-lying atolls & 5 individual islands; • 2 million km² in the central Pacific Ocean; • 1225 small islands & islets making up the Ratak (sunrise) and the Ralik (sunset) chains; • Pop. Over 60,000 (1998)

4. Introduction… • Marshallese - Aelōn̄ Kein (Current, Sky, Land) • Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)4 of the Marshall Islands is over 2 million km2 (770,000 sq. miles) and a mere fraction of that – less than 0.01% (183 km2 or 70 sq. miles) – is land • The atolls consist of biotic limestone on a deep basalt core, built over millions of years by living coral organisms.

5. 1,225 individual islands and islets make up the Ratak (Sunrise) chain in the east, and the Ralik (Sunset) chain in the west.

6. Impacts to RMI • Ocean acidification • Increase in frequency of storm surges • Longer frequency of droughts • Negative effects to our marine resources • Sea level rise • Land degradation • People/our heritage

8. Context and Background • Designed as a technical tool to assist resource agencies facilitate resource management planning with local governments & traditional leaders through a consultation process; • Identifies & recommends coarse, fine and species targets important for cultural purposes (turtles, mangroves), and for unique and special areas (spawning & aggregation sites) • Created from lessons learnt from resource management planning in the RMI

9. Context and Background • Marshallese professionals working on conservation issues in RMI; • Involved most relevant national government and non government agencies ; • Unique as it combines both Traditional & community management with science;

11. The ecosystems on each atoll are important to the communities who live on the atoll • Conservation of ecosystems plays a vital role in climate change because they provide natural carbon sinks. Healthy ecosystems also enhance the resilience of islands to the impacts of climate change. • Recognize the role of Traditional Leaders as caretakers and protectors of their people and their natural resources and the intimate connection between people, culture and natural resources; and • Realize that modern efforts to sustain the “Micronesian Way of Life” and to ensure the health, prosperity and diverse cultures of our island people are unlikely to succeed if the ecosystem services on which island and human rely continue to be degraded; and

12. Community based process – Climate Lens • 'climate proofing' of the Reimaanlok to provide guidance on ecosystem-based adaptation • placing the most vulnerable people, communities and ecosystems at the heart of national climate change strategies

13. Community based process- climate lens

14. Local knowledge: mapping of threats, identifying trends; capacity to cope; calendar of events Socio-Econ: baseline tool; Impacts to livelihoods & lifestyle; level of knowledge and concern; stakeholder differences Add to Baseline Survey: Vulnerability Assessment

15. Adaptation action on the ground -Bikirin • Bikirin Islet located on the north east side of Majuro Lagoon • Small community based project led by landowners • Vegetation restoration to reduce vulnerability to coastal surges • Using the Reimaanlok process, traditional windward vegetation (i.e. various types of salt-resistant trees) are being planted to protect inland and leeward side food sources and homesteads. They are called jannar in Marshallese. The inland windbreakers are called jelitak. • Safeguarding the natural resources and natural defenses that people have as a cost-effective measure that has multiple benefits...

16. Bikirin… Janar – Mixed forest - windward shores Scaevola, Tournefortia, wild Pandanus, Guettarda, Suriana (northern atolls) Protection of water lens, coastal protection and land stabilization, protection from salt-spray & wind, provision of food resources in the form of planted edible Pandanus Scaevola toccada – most seaward, drooping branches can effectively dissipate wave action

17. Ailuk Atoll… To restore and maintain the atoll and lagoon ecosystems to provide resilience to climate change impacts, through sustainable use of natural resources and reduced land-based impacts Rapid Ecological Assessments to provide baselines and initial project-based restoration and adaptation management activities Define an appropriate set of locally-driven indicators for the whole atoll and seascape that will provide evidence of the success of adaptation efforts

18. Implementation Challenges Ensure adequate administrative & institutional capacity Strengthen personnel capabilities Highlight costs of ‘doing nothing’ and of adaptation Sustainable financing Strengthen legal frameworks Maintain an inclusive and participatory process Select technically appropriate and effective measures Data gaps esp. terrestrial data

19. Financing • A sustainable finance plan has been completed • 6 million $ pledged from GEF and matching contributions from Govt and INGOs (TNC, CI), as well as donor funding, in particular from the German Government. • Support still needed, especially technical and financial, networks and assistance sharing the lessons and successes of the MC to the global community • Leverage of success across RMI and our partner countries

20. Thank you! Kommol Tata!