Source: COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA submitted to
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGROBIODIVERSITY ON ATOLL ISLAND STATES IN PALAU
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0233016
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
MIR-PCC31
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2013
Project End Date
May 31, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Del Rosario, AU.
Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
PO BOX 1179
KOLONIA POHNPEI,FM 96941
Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
Palau is one of the Pacific island countries vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather events leading to climate change. Increased air and ocean temperature, sea level rise, drought, storms and floods are likely to have an impact on salt water intrusion, soil salinity, drought, flooding, increased soil erosion, and eventually food security. This condition is apt to happen in small low lying islands in Palau. While a rise in sea level will disrupt coastal areas around much of Palau, atolls such as Kayangel, Peleliu and Angaur are particularly vulnerable to the phenomenon. The project aims to provide baseline data, observations of the community and create awareness on the agrobiodiversity and impact of climate change on food security in the outer islands of Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu in Palau. The adaptability and growth performance of climate ready taro, cassava and sweet potato varieties will also be tested on Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu. A report on the results of survey and experiments will be prepared for distribution to farmers and other agencies.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1361450106080%
1361454106020%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
1450 - Sweet potato; 1454 - Taro;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
1. To provide baseline data on the agrobiodiversity in the outer islands of Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu in Palau 2. To record the observations of the community with regards to the impact of climate change on existing agrobiodiversity in the outer islands of Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu 3. To create awareness within the community on the importance of diversity in food security with a changing climate 4. To test the adaptability and growth performance of climate ready taro, cassava and sweet potato varieties on Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu 5. To prepare a report on results of survey and experiments for distribution to farmers and other agencies
Project Methods
1. A survey will be conducted with residents on Kayangel, Peleliu and Angaur on the agrobiodiversity (crop diversity), traditional knowledge and climate change observations on the islands. The survey will take place at the start of the project and will result in a database in which all observed crop diversity is recorded. 2. Participatory workshops will be held to discuss the implications of climate change on the islands and the possible impact on agrobiodiversity and food security. The community will be asked to comment on what they have observed in recent years with regards to the crops and varieties that they grow. 3. PCC - CRE will be working with selected farmer cooperators to test the adaptability and growth performance of climate ready taro, cassava and sweet potato varieties on Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu 4. The adoption and acceptability of the introduced varieties will also be monitored 5. Results of these studies and experiments will be published in scientific journals and local publications .

Progress 06/01/13 to 05/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audience are the communities in the atoll islands of Kayangel, Peleliu and Angaur in Palau Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Community meetings held in the atoll island states of Kayangel, Peleliu and Angaur served as fora for sharing information among the residents on the impact of climate change on food security and livelihood. They were also informed on how PCC can assis them to be resilient tothe impacts of climate change. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The strong and deveastating typhoons "Bopha" and "Haiyan" brought about by climate change has drastically affected the biodiversity in the atoll islands of Kayangel, peleliu and Angaur in Palau. In Kayangel, 90% of the vegetation such as coconuts and bananas were fallen and wiped out. In Peleliu and Angaur, the coconuts and betel nuts were severely affected by the salt water that has gone inland. Salt water also came from the underground water lens on the island. Farmers were assisted by providing seeds of cash crops for food security of the communities. Planting materials of giant swamp taro were brought to Kayangel to reestablish their taro farms. Performance of several varieties of sweet potato were evaluated and faound to perform well in the atoll islands. Gradual recovery of the vegetation of the islands are being observed.

Publications


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Target audience are the members of communieis in atoll islands of kayangel, Peleliu and Angaur in Palau. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Community meetings held in the atoll island states informed the residents on the impact of climate change on food security and livelihood, and how PCC can assist them to recovery. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Planting materials of adaptable climate ready varieties of taro and sweet potato will be distributed to farmer cooperators.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The strong and devastating typhoons "Bopha" and "Haiyan"brought about by climate change has drastically affected the biodiversity in the atoll islands of Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu. In Kayangel, 90% of the vegetation such as coconuts and bananas was fallen and wiped out. In Peleliu and Angaur, the coconuts and betel nuts were severely affected by the salt water that has gone inland. Farmers were assisted by providing seeds of cash crops for food security of the communities. Planting materials of giant swamp taro were sent to Kayangel to reestablish their taro farms. Several varieties of sweet potato and taro were tested and performed well in the atoll islands. Gradual recovery of the vegetation in the islands are being observed.

    Publications


      Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

      Outputs
      Target Audience: Target audeince are members of communities in atoll islands in Palau such as Kayangel, Peleliu and Angaur Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Community meetings were held in the atoll island states to inform the residents of the impact of climate change on their food securoty and livelihood. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Establishment of trials on evaluation of adaptability and performance of climate ready varieties of taro, cassava and sweet potato in the atoll islands will be monitored.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Surveys were done with the communitities on the agrobiodiversity of crops and vegetation in the atoll islands of Kayangel, Angaur and Palaliu. The effects of the recent devastating typhoons "Bopha" and "Haiyan" on crops in these islands were specifically noted. Seeds and planting materials of crop plants were distributed to the residents in these islands to assist them in coping with the disasters and ensuring food security in the community. Farmer cooperators were identified for testing the adaptability and growth performence of climate ready taro, cassava and sweet potato in the atoll islands.

      Publications


        Progress 06/01/13 to 09/30/13

        Outputs
        Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue survey and monitoring of crop diversity in the outer islands of Palau

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? A survey was done among residents of the outer islands of Kayangel, Angaur and Peleliu in Palau. Crops grown in these island states were noted to document the existing agrobiodiversity. Likewise observations of the residents on effects of climate change on crop growth and diversity was noted.

        Publications