All sectors unite in Choiseul for climate change adaptation

All sectors unite in Choiseul for climate change adaptation

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Coastal Erosion on the North Coast in the Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands

24 January, 2013 - The people of Choiseul Province of the Solomon Islands have watched climate change affect resources that are vital to their livelihoods. To help combat this, a new project to strengthen natural ecosystems will help enhance their food security and resilience to climate change and threats of natural disasters.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to the adverse effects of climate change.

A joint inception and programme planning workshop will take place from 28 to 30 January 2013 for the Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme (CHICHAP), a pilot climate change programme for the Solomon Islands. The two day event will bring together over 100 participants from all sectors to learn more about this project, the partners involved as well as the results of the Choiseul climate change vulnerability and adaptation assessment. The workshop will also establish a steering committee and discuss the draft work programme.

The CHICHAP draws upon the expertise and cooperation of many partners working in their own areas of expertise in a coordinated and integrated way to enhance synergy and minimise duplication.

“Climate change is an issue that affects many different sectors of community life, including our agricultural systems, fisheries, water supply, culture and also the local, national and global economies,” said the Premier of Choiseul Province, Hon. Jackson Kiloe.

“It is therefore important to include all the different levels of community, including men and women, young and old people, different sectors and levels of government, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, planning, development agencies, church groups and the private sector to address this issue”.

The joint inception and programme planning workshop for the Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme (CHICHAP) is hosted by Choiseul Provincial Government with the assistance of several national Ministries, and development partners on Taro Island, Choiseul Province.

It will bring together participants from the national and provincial government, development partners, regional organisations, local and international environmental and development NGOs, and local community and church representatives from Choiseul.

SPREP's Ecosystem-based Adaptation Officer, Paul Donohoe, said “It is important to hold these workshops in the regional and rural areas to give community members a chance to interact with government and development agencies so they can voice their specific concerns and needs regarding climate change adaptation”.

The initial CHICHAP partners are: Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Program (PACCSAP); The Nature Conservancy, and the United Nations Development Programme.

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