Sea Level Rise and the Carteret Islanders

1
Sea Level Rise and the Carteret
Islanders John Duguman Discipline of
Environmental Science and Geography School of
Natural and Physical Sciences University of
PNG dugumanj_at_upng.ac.pg
2
Acknowledgement Ms Ursula Rakova of Tulele
Peisa Inc
3

• Outline
• Introduction
• Resettlement of Cataret Islands
• Government assistance and process
• Community responses at Tinputz
• Subsistence livelihood options
• Some issues for migration

4
Sea Level Rises/ Changes TIDE LEVEL WIND
EFFECT ATMOSPHERIC EFFECT LAND MOVEMENT
OCEANOGRAPHIC EFFECT GHG Signals
5
Results to end of June 2004
Net relative sea level rise (mm/year)
5.0
n/a
6.9
5.0
7.0
5.4
6.0
3.6
4.8
3.1
10.8
2.1
6
Results to end of March 2007
Net relative sea level rise (mm/year)
3.8
13.5
6.2
7.2
6.3
5.4
5.9
4.8
3.3
8.2
4.2
2.9
7

• Cataret Islands
• Located 86 km (53 mi) north-east of
  Bougainville.
• Atoll of low-lying islands Han, Jangain,
  Yesila, Yolasa and Piul, stretching
  30 km (19 mi) in NS direction
• Total land area of 0.6 square kms
• Maximum elevation of 1.5 m (5 ft) above sea
  level.
• Total population of 2000
• Culturally linked to a language group on the
  mainland.

8
(No Transcript)
9
NASA Picture of the Cataret Island Atoll
10

• Sea walls put into place and mangroves planted
  for over 20 yrs but now impacted upon . see you
  tube for movies
• Increased storm surges and high tides continue
  to wash away homes, destroy vegetable gardens
  (including swamp taro, and contaminate fresh
  water supplies (sea water intrusion). Tulele
  Peisa estimates up to 60 of the gardening area
  gone.
• Estimated that by 2015, the Carteret Islands
  could be largely submerged and entirely
  uninhabitable.
• Hence the need to relocate the 2000 villagers.

11
Cataret villagers to be resettled at Tinputz
12

• Resettlement Process
• The Catholic Church assisted by Tulele Peisa Inc,
  local NGO facilitated this process.
• Process of Social Mapping Extensive Research
• to Identify kinship, clan lineages
• Chief Exchanges
• Youth speaking tour in Tinputz.
• At present, 5 fathers are in Tinputz to prepare
  for their families to come in July 2009.

13

• Government Policy and Assistance

• No known policy in place, although Autonomous
  Bougainville Government (ABG) recognised Tulele
  Peisa Inc as representing the Cataret Islanders
  in Feb 2007.
• Oct 2007 National Govt allocated PNGK2 million
  to Cataret Relocation Program after Chiefs of
  Cataret Tinputz Regional MP emphasised on
  it.
• Now, funding is now allocated for all the atoll
  and other islands.
• National Disaster Centre did impact assessment
  of Cataret , although results not available here
  .

14

• Community Response at Tinputz

• Excellent community support and encouragement
  from Tinputz
• community.
• Social and customary obligations to help out as
  reciprocity will be enabled.

15

• Sustainability Livelihood Options

• 5 ha to each family .
• 3 ha for cocoa and coconut production for
  subsistence.
• 2 ha for houses, food gardens for taro, kaukau
  (sweet potato), banana and other food staples.
  Maybe for other spiritual activities.

16

• Some issues for Migration

• Loss of cultural and sacred sites and
  attachment.
• Finding cultural lineages and commonalities
  between people
• Acceptance of refugees on compassionate
  grounds.
• Anxiety and fear of coming into contact with new
  environment, way of life, peaceful island life
  to mainland Bougainville after conflict .

17
Thank you