Understanding the Human-Mangrove Relationship for Resilience in Samoa

Abstract

This report outlines key human-mangrove relationships in Moata’a, an urban village settlement in Apia, Samoa, with the aim to provide an understanding of the relationship between the Moata’a community and their mangrove environment that will inform future development, conservation, and climate adaptation activities in the area. Healthy mangroves are integral to climate resilience in ways that see social, cultural, environmental, and economic factors deeply entwined. Results of the study indicate that climate adaptation and resilience activities in Moata’a need to be understood and responded to through a collaborative multi-sectoral approach which sees environmental, cultural, land/heritage, recreation, and economic (livelihoods) aspects as mutually reinforcing. The study also revealed gendered differences in the everyday lived experience of mangrove degradation and an important place for all members of the community, and notably women, in responding to change, and planning for future activities. The study focussed on four main areas of results: positive aspects of the human-mangrove relationship; environmental impacts and climate change; adaptation, mitigation, management and care; and, future impacts and future plans. 1. Positive aspects of the human-mangrove relationship The study found that the Moata’a community place significant value on their mangrove environment: mangroves were appreciated for their environmental values; their contribution to sense of place, belonging and identity; their practical use-value being integral to the provision o f food and semi-subsistence; and as a site of recreation.Enviromental factors were given the highest values followed by their importance to sense of place, identity and culture. While some respondents also valued them for development, this was the most contentious category and a significant proportion of respondents disagreed. Mangroves thus hold both significant environmental and cultural value for the Moata’a community. The sense of belonging and identity that the Moata’a community take from their mangroves is directly tied to customary land (fanua) whereby caring for the mangroves is caring for Land, is caring for kin (‘āiga). This key human-mangrove relationship – the appreciation of mangroves in the community for environmental considerations and the ways this is interlinked with mangroves’ role in culture, identity and belonging – that is often not adequately recognised in mangrove conservation, biodiversity, and climate adaptation activities. Mangroves also provide for the environmental, spiritual/cultural, social, and economic c wellbeing of the Moata’a community. The mangroves were ranked highest in their contributions to environmental well-being but economic, health, environmental and social factors were all highly rated illustrating the diverse and interconnected ways that mangroves contribute to well-being of the community. economic wellbeing of the Moata’a community. 2. Environmental impacts and Climate Change Households report experiencing significant change to their environment and felt the burden of mangrove loss in multiple, interacting ways. Sea-level rise and flooding are identified as the greatest climate- and development-related impacts facing Moata’a. The community also reported a loss of biodiversity, out-migration, increased waste and pollution. Households further noted the impact of these environmental and climate changes on their physical and mental health. This is unsurprising given the close relationships detailed between the environment and sense of identity and well-being. Climate change and ill-planned development have thus had disastrous consequences with the community have experiencing not only a loss of plant and Land, but, with it, cultural practice, livelihoods, subsistence, recreational play, seasonal festivals and sociality, traditional knowledge, belonging, and identity. 3. Adaptation, Mitigation, Management and Care A key human-mangrove relationship in Moata’a are activities and practices oriented towards climate and environmental adaptation and mitigation. There is a strong involvement from the community in mangrove management and care. The Moata’a community are taking action to adapt to and manage environmental and climate risks through: infrastructure development (building seawalls, houses and sandbanks, land reclamation), void filling erosion with soil, relocating inland or to the upper part of the village away from the mangroves, changing the directions of water flows, mangrove management and conservation (replanting and clean-ups), and by diverifying their income source. Households draw on traditional knowledge/ practice in the way they interact with, and value the mangrove environment. Many responses are led by women. Overall, there is emphasis placed on a reciprocal relationship – if we care for mangroves they will provide for and protect us. Despite their losses the Moata’a community are resilient precisely because they have maintained as much as possible their connections with each other, the surrounding environment, and their cultural heritage, and continue to draw on these connections in existing governance, activities, and plans for the conservation and development of the mangroves. It will be crucial to build on these strengths and support local conceptions of resilience to reconnect the human-environment in mangrove conservation and restoration. 4. Future impacts and future plans This report makes recommendations on key adaptation activities that will improve the health of the mangroves, regenerate human-environment connections and cultural practice, and thereby, strengthen the resilience of the Moata’a community. The Moata’a community was shown to overwhelmingly support eco-tourism development and to bring significant assets to the planning and implementation in their support of a regenerative, sustainable approach to tourism.