About CCA
The project aims to empower the communities in Lifuka and Foa islands to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. Haʻapai Island group is recognized to be more disadvantage by the impacts of climate change compared to other part of Tonga. Geographically, they are more isolated and not easy to access. Sea level rise has resulted in a lot of beach erosion in the islands and it has also affected the quality of ground water. The ongoing increase in temperature has brought changes in weather patterns which have detrimental impact on the production level of agriculture and fisheries. The sad thing about all this happening is that, local communities have little understanding, control and let alone prepare for any of these changes. The project will adopt an integrated approach of community empowerment, communication and awareness, demonstration of best mitigation and adaptation practices for communities. It is envisage that this project will generate lessons learned for replication in other island group in Tonga.
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Aim
​To contribute to global effort on mitigation and adaptation climate change through effective collaboration between local communities and relevant partners in Tonga.
Project Objective: To empower communities in Lifuka and Foa to better manage the impact of climate change.
Expected Outcomes
  • Empowerment – village committees in each village will be empowered to actively participate in addressing climate change and other environmental problems
  • Learning – start with a simple activity, e.g. coastal replanting scheme, to get the buy-in of the community before gradual addressing some of the more complicated problems, such as roaming pig.
  • Demonstration – activities will showcase to people to see viable benefits and replicate.
  • Collaboration – work in partnership with the government Ministry of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Food in terms of providing technical advice and building their capacity for ongoing environmental management.
Activities Undertaken
1. Community Empowerment
  • Conduct workshop on good governance for government and community leaders
  • Establish and conduct quaterly meetings for Local Project Coordinating Team
  • Conduct village-based workshop on good governance, develop action & monitoring plan
2. Communication and Public Awareness
  • Produce and distribute awareness materials (brochure, poster & t-shirts)
  • Conduct media awareness program in Haʻapai and Nukuʻalofa (tv and radio)
  • Produce dvd documentary on impacts of climate change on environment and how traditional knowledge help communities to cope
3. Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
  • Expand tree nurseries to cater for coastal reforestation
  • Community Mini-Project Scheme focusing on village-based protection and replanting of endangered cultural, fruit, medicinal, and coastal trees.
  • Conduct village competition inspecting environmental management and sustainable alternative livelihood activities, such as, piggery and poultry management, waste managment, organic gardening, etc.
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