1. PEF Recognising hybrid solutions TO BUILDING RESILIENCE: pacc palau
Presented by:
Taito Nakalevu, PACC PM, SPREP

2. Outline About PACC (5 mins) PACC Palau - Food Security Sector Lessons
Taro demonstration
Problem
Action research (on-farm demo)
Preliminary results
Lessons

3. About PACC
VIDEO CLIP > 4’40”

4. Palau – Adaptation Context
~ 85% population reside in low-lying coastal areas of Palau
Taro is the main staple crop
Planted in low-lying areas.
Salt water intrusion impacting adversely on taro (staple) crop
About 7-9mm/yr

5. Palau – Adaptation Context
Projected to increase by 5-15cm (high confidence PCCSP)
Low lands are abandoned due to high salinity
Food imports in Palau have grown by 133% in the last decade, while the population has increased by 20%

6. SOIL ANALYSIS OF PILOT SITE (3 AREAS)
NGIMIS 1
NGIMIS 2
NGIMIS 3 pH
5.3
4.5
OM (%)
13.40
18.75
20.04 N%
0.5
0.61
0.55
P ppm (Olsen)
*13 *8
K me/100g soil
0.58
0.52
0.62
Na me/100g soil
5.05
18.76
5.48
Ca me/100g soil
5.46
7.19
5.59
CEC me/100g soil
3.0
41.6
37.3
Cl ppm
649
3290
973
Fe ppm
810
1243
1683
NaCl tests show salt is very high. (Higher than table salt)

7. Adaptation Option(s) demonstrated

8. 1. Taro Variety testing for salt tolerance – 19 varieties tested
13 Local varieties
Ochelochel
Kirang
Ungil Dil
Okelang
Dungersuul
Ngesuas
Homusted
Dirrubong
Prak
Terrekakl
Kerdeu
Ochab
Dirratengadik
6 Introduced varieties
Tan/ Ind 14
Tan/Mal 14
BL/HW 12
SM 10
SM 12
SM 111
TESTED for SALT TOLERANCE
6 INTRODUCED
SOURCED FROM
: SPC LAND RESOURCE UNIT

9. 2. Test the use of traditional dykes to control salt water intrusion

10. Preliminary Results:

11. March 2013, 8 months after planting 2nd Harvest

12. Block A
Block B
Block C
Block D

13. Performance of traditional dykes
Results - mixed
Using only traditional materials with soil no longer stops intrusion
More secondary dykes had to be build.
Also there is now the use of plastic or tarpaulin materials and sandbags to help keep out the salt water.

14. Clearing of waterway from the hill
AFTER
Traditionally farmers rely on dykes and flushing to keep the salt water out or flush out salt water in the plantations.
BEFORE

15. Women are responsible for Taro Planting

16. Raising the dike and installing a rubber
sheet lining

17. Construction of the main dike with rubber lining and sand bags

18. More secondary dykes have to be build to prevent intrusion

19. Traditionally men are not allowed into taro patches
Traditionally men are not allowed into taro patches. Now they need to assist the women to deal with salinity challenges

20. Lessons…
Natural solutions are best but may not be enough thus the need to be open to hybrid solutions to better adapt
Traditional practices need to change to deal with new challenges brought about by climate change
Be flexible and open minded to adaptation solutions as the situation demands

21. Partnerships & Linkages
This project is a collaboration between
SPREP-UNDP-GEF-AusAID PACC Project
Office of Environmental Response & Coordination
Palau Community College Cooperative Research and Extension
College of Micronesia Land Grant Programs
AusAID International Climate Change Adaptation to Climate (ICCAI) through SPC
SPC North Pacific Office

22. Taito Nakalevu: taiton@sprep.org
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION :
Taito Nakalevu:
Peniamina Leavai:
Naheed Hussein:
Pacific Climate Change portal:
Vital roads:
Vital water:
Vital Food: