Vegetation and land cover mapping and improving food security for building resilience to a changing climate in Pacific island communities
Vegetation and land cover mapping and improving food security for building resilience to a changing climate in Pacific island communities
The project, over a 36-month period, will identify and implement integrated agricultural system management approaches that increase climate resilience. The systems will be based on assessments of the robustness of existing production systems and practices and climate change threats at selected sites in each participating country, potentially targeting those areas where food insecurity is an important issue.
The project will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of skilled professional specialists and technical support staff within the SPC, in conjunction with stakeholders from national governments, non government and the private sector. A key project outcome will be the development of human skills capacity at the national and farm level, supported by SPC technical specialists at the regional level, thereby contributing to sustainability after the completion of the project.
The project target countries provide a representative cross section of agricultural systems across the Pacific and include “high large island” countries (Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu), medium scale island systems (Tonga and Samoa), and a representative “atoll island” system (Kiribati). Specific project sites will be identified according to country priorities. Resources are provided in the budget to fund locally engaged staff to manage in-country project coordination and implementation needs.
The project will provide quantitative information on the available food resources in each target area and be informed by land cover/land-use maps and other data sources. Future climate data for each country will be sourced from the most up-to-date climate change science information being made available through the Pacific Climate Change Science Programme.