OceansWatch plans new expeditions to the Solomon Islands
by OceansWatch on 27 Feb 2015
Magic Roundabout with many local visitors - OceansWatch Climate Change adaptation program - Solomon Islands OceansWatch
www.oceanswatch.org
Last year, OceansWatch trialled a Climate Change adaptation program in two communities in the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands have been identified as one of the countries that will be most affected by the rising sea levels and increased storm conditions. The low coral atolls where we work are especially vulnerable.
The workshops explored potential climate threats and possible adaptation strategies. A map of the community was drawn identifying their key resources. We have also monitored the ground water for increasing salinity. Out of this participation a Community-Based Adaptation Plan was developed and we then facilitated the community in its implementation.
Britt Basel was the key person initiating this program and she brought with her a wealth of Climate Change adaptation experience from around the world. In 2015 we plan to expand the progam to fourteen villages in the Temotu Province.
This program aligns well with our established marine program and the sustainable livelihoods program that we have been piloting. The latter involves the local women establishing co-operatives to produce virgin cold-pressed coconut oil.
We are currently saying goodbye to Magic Roundabout, the yacht we have used annually since 2008 and we wish to send a huge thanks to Alice Sowerby for that loan. She is now being shipped back to Europe so family and friends of the Sowerby's can enjoy her and we wish them much happy sailing. She is being replaced by the use of Anum Cara, a sister yacht to Cat Knapp and we are excited to have another wharram in the fleet.
In preparation for the 2015 expeditions we are reviewing candidates and anyone interested to join us as scientists, conservationists, skippers, crew or with their own yacht are invited to look at OceansWatch website
Thanks to the great team in the Uk we are now registered as a charitable organisation there and we look forward to seeing how we can make a difference to coastal communities and their environments on that side of the world.
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