ACP-EU_CTA ACP-EU_CTA REGIONAL POLICY BRIEFING No. 7REGIONAL POLICY BRIEFING No. 7

Building Resilience in Small Island Building Resilience in Small Island Economies: from Vulnerabilities to Economies: from Vulnerabilities to

OpportunitiesOpportunities

ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ON SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPMENT ON SMALL ISLAND

ECONOMIES ECONOMIES

Hotel Victoria, Pointe aux PimentsHotel Victoria, Pointe aux PimentsMauritius; 23Mauritius; 23rdrd ~ 24 ~ 24thth April 2012 April 2012

Mr Tarakabu TofingaMr Tarakabu TofingaSnr Land Planning Officer Snr Land Planning Officer Land Management DivisionLand Management DivisionMinistry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agriculture Dev.Dev.

STRENGTHENING STRENGTHENING NATIONAL RESILIENCE NATIONAL RESILIENCE

THROUGH THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF

SUSTAINABLE LAND PLANNINGSUSTAINABLE LAND PLANNING

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

• Kiribati ~ A Brief Introduction

• Kiribati ~ Environment & Development Context

• Climate Change & Kiribati

• Land Planning & Climate Change

• Strengthening Resilience through Sustainable Land Planning

• Land Planning, Sustainability & Food Security– Agricultural Land Uses & Practices– Agricultural Activities at Urban & Rural Settings

• Summary & Conclusion

Kiribati ~ A Brief IntroductionKiribati ~ A Brief Introduction• The Republic of Kiribati (Kiribati) is an island

nation lies astride the equator in the mid Pacific Ocean

• Consists of 33 low-lying coral atoll islands (total land area of 800 sq. km) spread across an oceanic EEZ of 3.5 million square kilometers

• Part of former British colony (Gilbert & Ellice Islands) gained independence in 1979

• Population of 103,000 (2010 pop. Census)

• 50,402 (48%) lives in S.Tarawa – Capital & Main Urban Centre of 684 hectare in area

Kiribati ~ Environment & Kiribati ~ Environment & Development ContextDevelopment Context• The islands have diverse marine environ for

food, transport, traditional practice & recreation

• The atoll terrestrial environment is more limited but essential for water, food & shelter

• The people have relied on natural resources for livelihood & enjoyed relative high standard of living owing generally to favorable resources for subsistence living

• Poverty, starvation & severe malnutrition are generally non-existent with basic food & shelter readily available for modest efforts

Environment & Dev. Context – cont’dEnvironment & Dev. Context – cont’d

• Dominant transition from traditional subsistence lifestyle to contemporary market-based economy has posed key challenges

• Development performance has been poor with ‘stagnating & low economic growth rate’ – Low productivity of investments, inefficient public

enterprises, low return from resource exploitation & public expenditure forms the bulk of all expenses

• Constraints to sustainable economic growth;– Isolation & vulnerability, high reservation prices of

labor, land & capital, low standard of workforce skills…etc. Land tenure is often an issue...

Climate ChangeClimate Change• C/Change is complicated by tremendous no. of

variables linked with climate and complex interaction of atmosphere, ecosystems, ocean & land forms.

• There’s always level of uncertainty associated with C/Change predictions

• Often anticipated C/Change impacts on the natural & built environments includes; Droughts, flooding, thawing permafrost, storm surge, sea-level rise, heat waves and other

• IPCC however states that impacts will mostly manifest themselves in regional/land variables

Kiribati & Climate ChangeKiribati & Climate Change• The fragile physical environment of Kiribati

makes it one of the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of C/Change

• The atolls rise 3-4 meters above mean sea level & a few hundred meters wide

• Inundation, storm surge & erosion will destroy land areas of the already small islands & contaminates fresh groundwater lens vital for all living organisms/farm land – Challenges!!!

• Addressing the predictable impacts dominate the national environment and development agenda.

Kiribati & Climate ChangeKiribati & Climate Change• Government has embarked in process of

mainstreaming C/Change adaptation & disaster risk reduction in its development plan by implementing series of initiatives such as: – launch of the Kiribati Adaptation Program (KAP) in

2003 and ongoing phases– Adoption of Climate Change Adaptation Policy

Note – Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (‘05)– Consultation process and consequent adoption of a

National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA-’07)– Adoption of a 10 years National Integrated

Environment Policy (NIEP: 2012 ~ 2022)

Land Land PlanningPlanning & Climate & Climate Change Change • Planning can play an important role in

influencing societal actions that can ‘mitigate’ effects that do occur & allow ‘adaptation’ to impacts.

• Planner’s role is significant as it deals with basic issues as community design, land use and development guidelines

• Planners can play a key role in enhancing resilience through improved adaptive land uses, efficient use of climate-sensitive resources ~ (water), promote sustainable land activities …etc.

Strengthening Resilience through Strengthening Resilience through Sustainable Land PlanningSustainable Land Planning• Regulate land uses through zoning considerate

of mitigate/adaptive measures– Open/Green Space, Environmental Significance

Sites, Sanctuary, Protected Areas & Reserves

• Promote land uses that support sustainability– Mixed/Compact Uses (commercial/residential/civic),

Agricultural/Farm Land Uses

• Encourage Green Development Standards– Urban Land Development Guideline & Policies

(solar powers, gardening, natural lights/ventilations & setbacks from hazard areas…etc.)

Land Use, Sustainability & Food Land Use, Sustainability & Food Security ~ Security ~ Agricultural Land Uses & Agricultural Land Uses & Practices Practices • Agriculture is mainstay of most Pacific Is.

including Kiribati & subsistence farming continues to be significant/efficient component of subsistence living & income earning

• Designating land for agricultural initiatives is a testimony to the efficiency of subsistence production & improve opportunity for cash earning in domestic & outside markets

• Agricultural land uses support local food production & stimulate agro-market system

Land Use & Sustainable Land Use & Sustainable Agriculture Dev. ~ Urban SettingAgriculture Dev. ~ Urban Setting• High population density & competitive demand

for land thus promoting ‘Mixed Land Uses’– Water Reserve + (Organic) Farming Area– Urban Development Project & Temaiku Subdivision

• Well established farmers’ associations with formal setups/nursery, products markets & readily available land– Eita Community Farmers Coop, KOFA, Eco-farm…

• Easy access to collaborative technical support with favorable number of customers – Agriculture Division & Taiwan Technical Mission

Land Use & Sustainable Land Use & Sustainable Agriculture Dev. ~ Rural SettingAgriculture Dev. ~ Rural Setting• Less population density = non competitive land

use thus easy access to agricultural land

• Informal setups vs. urban but higher yields

• ‘Growth Center Concept’ that will stimulate more productive agricultural activities & market system & also aims to decentralize urban center & promote utilization of idle rural lands & boost productivity

• Establishment of public services & infrastructures + easier access to technical assistances

Summary Summary • Land use planning offers significant C/Change

mitigation & adaptation opportunity

• Land planning has a significant role in the attainment of sustainability through initiation of land uses that are conductive to land productivity especially one that considers food security & economic development.

• Through commitment & well implemented plans is realization of opportunities & attainment of sustainability

Conclusion Conclusion • Kiribati being a Least developed country (LDC)

& Small Island Developing State (SIDS) it’s among countries most vulnerable to C/C

• Their special circumstances being LDCs make them unable to meet costs of adaptation & SIDS physical susceptibility to effects of C/C.

• Always welcome assistances (technical & financial) from interested development partners to effectively/efficiently formulate & implement relevant programs

THANK YOU!!THANK YOU!!

Reference & sources:Reference & sources:

• Land Management Division, 2011, Urban Planning & Development Policy, MELAD-Government of Kiribati, Kiribati

• Environment & Conservation Division, 2011, National Integrated Environment Policy, Draft Report, MELAD-Government of Kiribati, Kiribati

• Asian Development Bank, 1995, Strategy for the Pacific; Policies & Program for Sustainable Growth, Manila, Philippines.