NAKAIY INTEGRATED CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY MALDIVES ISSUE 5 10 JULY 2006 FUNOAS NAKAIY (01st to 14th July) Month of Extreme Weather • During this period winds are at an average of 11miles per hour and usually from the westerly direction Due to a low pressure doing damage to the reef due to ditions have been affecting the trough developed over the strong winds and rough seas. whole of Maldives. •Average rainfall for during Maldives region there is Funoas is 62.4mm heavy rains and strong wind 24th June - H.A Baarah experi- (Source: conditions experienced enced heavy rains ,flooding , through out the country. Department of Meteorology– uprooting of trees and damage Nakaiy thakaai Moosum) to houses and goods. Major events due to bad weather include: 24th June—H.A Mahibadhoo experienced strong waves and 15th June—Flooding in Gn. Fu- flooding. vahmulah caused damage to the people and their livelihoods. Other islands experienced heavy rains and strong winds disrupting “ Climate Change Low pressure trough devel- 21st June—H.Dh.Makunudhoo lives and leaving people trauma- Affects Fuvahmulah”- oped over the Maldives – reported strong winds . tized. Page4 www.meteorology.gov.mv/ 21st June—G.Dh. Thinadhoo Due to bad weather catching bait roads flooded due to heavy rains. was difficult for fishermen so Contact us: affected the fish catch. Tel: 960-3341790 22nd June—A boat is swept onto Fax: 960-3322286 the Male’ western house reef Through the end of May and June Email: this year, extreme weather con- [email protected] NAPA Working Group on Honey Comb Eel found at the Male western House Reef. The Working Group on Criteria Members Protecting the reefs, Development for Prioritization of guarding the islands is Sectors and Adaptation Activities Hussain Zahir (MRC) very important for has been working hard! Fathimath Shafeega (MFAMR) the sustainability of a Ibrahim Shaheen (MTCC) lot of species. Three fruitful sessions have been held Mohamed Aslam(LaMer Pvt.Ltd) Photo: Azim MUsthag since 16thMay, The first draft of the Ahmed Jameel (MEEW) (Maldivers Diviing Cen- list of criteria was developed by 1st of Amjad Abdullah (MEEW) NAPA Working Group tre) June and has been pilot tested in Fu- Hussain Naeem (MEEW) 16th May 2006 vahmulah on the 13th of June. Simad Saeed (AEC) Hafeeza abdulla (National Con- To view the list of criteria and have sultant) your say P.T.O. Well done, NAPA WG! NAPA-Criteria Pilot Tested in Gn.Fuvahmulah The first draft of the List of Criteria 3: Degree to which Criteria 9: Degree to which Criteria for the Prioritisation adverse effects of climate change employment opportunities can be of Sectors and Adaptation to human capital (human health) increased particularly for youth Activities has been pilot is reduced and women tested at Gn.Fuvahmulah. Criteria 10: Degree to which The list has been revised Objective 2: Reduce poverty the natural environment will be based on the findings of the and promote equality to enhance protected pilot testing exercise. adaptive capacity Criteria 11: Degree to which Criteria 4: Degree to which people and property can be made 1. RECOMMENDED CRI- disparity between Male’ and the safer from damage caused by TERIA FOR SECOND atolls is reduced natural disasters STAGE OF PILOT Criteria 5: Degree to which Criteria 12: Degree to which TESTING empowerment of women is family ties and community rela- Objective 1: Reduce the degree achieved tions can be strengthened of adverse effects of climate Criteria 6: Degree to which Criteria 13: Degree to which change food security is increased human rights can be protected, Criteria 1: Degree to which justice promoted and stability adverse effects of climate change Objective 3: Achieve synergy maintained. to natural capital (beach, vegeta- with national development goals tion, water, coral reefs and re- and MEAs lated ecosystems) is reduced Criteria 7: Build back better – Criteria 2: Degree to which degree to which the situation will adverse effects of climate change improve from what it is now. to produced capital (public infra- Criteria 8: Degree to which the structure, utilities such as power, economy can be strengthened water supply and telecommunica- and diversified. tions) is reduced 2. RECOMMENDED AP- 1. What are the principal haz- 3. RECOMMENDED AP- PROACH TO IDENTIFY ards faced by this island/atoll PROACH TO PRIORITISE ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES or region? ADAPTATION ACTIVITIES It is recommended that first par- 2. What are the major impacts Once the adaptation activities ticipants be well informed about of these hazards and which have been identified, a question- the climate hazards (including systems/groups are most naire will be presented to the likelihood of occurrence) faced by vulnerable to these hazards? participants in the community the Maldives. The basis for this 3. Why are these systems and consultations. Questionnaires will will be a presentation on climate groups particularly vulner- be completed by each individual risk profile of the Maldives devel- able? in groups by putting a cross in the oped on historical data. 4. What measures would re- appropriate box (very high = 10; duce the vulnerability of high = 7; moderate = 5; low = 3, . Second inform the participants these systems and groups? low = 1, No = 0). about the specific vulnerabilities 5. What are the factors that of the islands, ecosystems, econ- determine whether these omy and people to the identified measures are taken? hazards and inform them about 6. Can we assess these factors the impacts of climate change. in order to measure the capacity of the system/ Third, after the presentations population to implement divide the participants into groups these measures? of about 8 each and ask the 7. What are the barriers to the groups to come up with answers implementation of these to the following questions: measures? Fuvahmulah– Meeting with the island heads and mem- Send your comments to bers of the society to test [email protected] criteria Awareness on Climate Change at Addu and Fuvahmulah ICCS projects with guest lec- turers Muhammad Wahid, RETDAP, Dr.Simad Saeed, AEC conducted awareness rais- ing sessions at Muhibbuddin School, S.Hithadhoo and Gnavi- yani Atoll education Centre, gn.Fuvahmulah on the 9th and 12th of June 2006. Fuvahmulah Children in side GnAtoll School Children Listen- The awareness sessions included Power House with Mr. Waheed ing to the presentation presentations on science and im- pacts of climate change, energy generation and conservation and impacts of climate change on marine and terrestrial biodiversity. The students were also taken on field trips to the STELCO power- houses, Eedhigali Kilhi and Bandaara Kilhi. Water tested from Eedhigali Muhibuhdeen Children Planting Kilhi by children from Muhibbud- Trees, not only for greenery but din chool carbon sink as well, with ICCS members, ending the day Bandaara Kilhi The fresh water lake of Fuvah- mulah. The school children visited the lake and Muhibbuddin School Student In water samples were tested . charge of the Tree Planted by Muhibudheen School Children with the team members of MEEW Projects Office 9th June 2006 PAGE 4 Flooding in Fuvahmulah A three-week experiment to resolve the biggest riddle in climate science begins in Aus- Island Summary Unique Fuvahmulah! tralia on Februrary2006. Fuvamulah has a beach of sand Atoll: Gnaviyani Atoll consisting of shiny larger bits of Scientists will use radar, aero- Population: 7,528 polished coral. Taking sand planes, weather balloons and a ship Length: 4,500 m from the beach is banned by to study the life cycle of tropical Width: 1,200 m the government. clouds. Distance from Male’:494Km Longitude: 73*25’40”E They are searching for details of There are two lakes called how clouds form and carry heat Latitude: 11*-17’-53”N Bandaara Kilhi and Dhandimagu high up into the atmosphere. Language: Mulaku Kilhi A better understanding of these crucial processes should lead to Dictricts: 8 districts There are four water draining computer models that can predict 1-Dhandimagu drudges that run into the sea the extent of global climate warm- 2-Dhiguvaandhoo from main land. ing more accurately. 3-Hoadhandu 4-Maadhadu Current projections of global tem- The island is in concave forma- perature rise, reported in the last 5-Miskimagu tion. assessment of the Intergovernmen- 6-Maale’-gan Aerial photograph of tal Panel on Climate Change 7-Funaad Fuvahmulah often gets Gn.Fuvahmulah (IPCC), see increases by the end of 8-Dhoondigan flooded during June— the century that range from 1.4 to August due to heavy rain- 5.8C. The spread of possible tem- www.atolls.gov.mv fall. peratures represents a huge uncer- tainty - and much of it stems from unknowns to do with how the Last flooding on 15th June 2006 world's economy will develop over coming decades. The water level rose to 1.5 foot high after a rain fall of 150mm (the amount of time it took was not recorded as Fuvahmulah does not But there is also uncertainty over have a MET office) . A total of 118 homes affected. Household how the climate will react, and one items and floors were damaged. Trees fell, including Mango, Guava of the key issues centres on a poor and Jack Fruit. Agricultural land had an influx of water, damaging understanding of what goes on inside clouds - how they form, and crops. Roads were cracked. Flood waters caused waste and gar- how they behave. bage to float. Mosquito breeding exacerbated. Over the next three weeks, about The two Kilhi are the natural water level maintaining devices but 200 scientists drawn from 30 insti- they seem to be insufficient. The gateway of the old drains that run Bandaara Kilhi tutions in 10 countries aim to from mainland to sea had to be opened manually.