BY INDY MAEALASIA
IN Marovo Lagoon, Western province climate change is placing a heavier burden on women and youths compared to men.
According to Dr Mary Tahu of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), rising sea levels and prolonged tidal patterns- caused by climate change are negatively impacting resource gathering and harvesting
In her research titled ‘Gender, Climate Change, and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge in the Solomon Islands Mangroves’, that was carried out in communities surrounding Seghe, Marovo highlighted how women and youths travel greater distances to gather essential food resources for survival.
Tahu highlighted that historically sea level rise and low tides followed predictable patterns, which enable women and youth to harvest sea resources at the right time
However, recent observations indicated prolonged and irregular tidal cycles, disrupting the normal harvesting process.
“Now, when there’s high tide, it goes for three months. When there’s low tide, it goes for certain months. So, it’s not normal,” Tahu explained.
“… therefore it is making it difficult for them(women) to harvest most of these shells and food.”
While these challenges persist, the effects of climate change have also led to unexpected ecological benefits.
“Over the past years, women have reported a positive impact of climate change…. They noted that mangroves are now growing in areas where they were presently absent,” Tahu said.
She stressed that rising sea levels have facilitated the dispersal of mangrove seedlings, enabling them to establish in location that were not know previously to host mangroves.
Tahu stressed that these findings demonstrate the resilience of mangrove ecosystems, which continue to adapt even as climate change poses new obstacles for communities.
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