Coastal Protection Was Sent by Email to Mr Sjef Ijzermans, the Dutch Special Envoy for Pacific SIDS (Annex 1)

Home , Fongafale, Nanumanga, Nanumea, Nui (atoll), Nukufetau, Nukulaelae

DRR Mission Report Tuvalu

March, 2016 Draft Final Report DRR Mission

Sjef IJzermans (Team Leader) Tjitte Nauta (ICZM specialist) Document title DRR Mission Report Tuvalu Document short title DRR Mission report Tuvalu Status Draft Final Report DRR Mission Date March 2016

(Photo NSAP)

1 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The DRR team worked in close cooperation with the Office of the Prime Minister. The team thanks Foreign Minister Taukelina Finikaso and his staff Ms Manaema Saitala, Senior Advisor Asia & Europe Division, and Ms Marilyn Simmons, Senior Advisor Pacific Affairs Division, for their support and arrangements to meet the various government institutions and other agencies. The mission is also grateful for the time that all persons listed in Annex B spent with us to discuss the issues covered in this report.

The mission spent relatively short time in Tuvalu to fully capture the complexity / magnitude of the problems, hence this report is mainly a brief compilation report of available information collated during the mission. By copying and reviewing parts of existing studies (among others the many valuable SPC / SOPAC studies, the NAPA project and Australian Aid Climate Change adaptation and the Tuvalu Tropical Cyclone Pam Recovery: Vulnerability Reduction Plan), the mission was able to understand and describe the system in order to arrive at some recommendations on how to proceed.

2 SUMMARY

General

On September 6th 2015 a request of His Excellency Enele Sopoaga, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu for support of the DRR-Team on coastal protection was sent by email to Mr Sjef IJzermans, the Dutch Special Envoy for Pacific SIDS (Annex 1). The email was sent after a brief meeting at the Pacific Island Development Forum PIDF in Suva, in September 2015, between the Prime Minister Sopoaga, Netherlands Ambassador to Tuvalu Rob Zaagman and Special Envoy Sjef IJzermans.

On January 6, 2016, after an exchange of e-mails, Ambassador Zaagman (Wellington) responded in the form of a proposal for a mission to be led by Special Envoy Sjef IJzermans with one or two technical experts in the areas of coastal protection and a dredging specialist to visit Tuvalu in the first week of February 2016. Parties agreed accordingly and the mission of Sjef IJzermans and Tjitte Nauta of Research Institute Deltares was fielded between 2 and 9 February, 2016. The mission was made possible through the Disaster Risk Reduction Facility (DRR) through which the Netherlands government makes available expertise in the field of water management. The team had a stopover in Fiji where the offices of UNDP, SPC and EU were visited prior to the stay in Tuvalu.

Tuvalu is a low-lying group of eight atolls and reef ridges just south of the equator and just west of the International Date Line. Tuvalu consists of nine small islands scattered over 500,000 km2 of the western Pacific. The islands include Niulakita, Nukulaelae, Funafuti, Nukufetau, Vaitupu, Nui, Niutao, Nanumaga and Nanumea. The total land area is only 27 km2 and all of the islands are less than five meters above sea level (Tuvalu NBSAP 2009). The atolls islands are split up in individual islands, sometimes connected by reefs, sometimes divided by openings enabling large sea ships to enter the lagoon. The capital is located on the island Fongofale, part of the main atoll Fanufuti. On this island some 6,000 of the approximately 11,000 inhabitants of Tuvalu are living. The population on Funafuti has recently increased because of migration from the outer islands.

The mission took place within a year after typhoon Pam had caused havoc in the region and a storm surge and king tides combined with high waves had inflicted serious damage to Tuvalu where every piece of its long stretched land borders the sea.

Domestic and agriculture water supply were topics that were only briefly examined during the mission. Drinking water supply in the capital island is mainly realized through harvested rainwater, as average rainfall exceeds 3 meters annually and is rather evenly spread throughout the year and over the years. Roof catchments provide a good base for water supply throughout most of the year. However, dry years do occur, when water provided by the government is rationed and many people have to resort to drinking water produced by a few desalinization plants with a total capacity of 60 m3 per day.

Tuvalu is well aware of the complexity of its situation and has managed to produce many documents that articulate well the status and the possible way forward. Furthermore regional institutions like SPC (now also including SOPAC), ADB, World Bank and several bilateral donors like Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan are providing substantial support, both in terms of technical finesse and volume of assistance. The ‘Vulnerability Reduction Plan’ provides a comprehensive overview of the status quo, the strategies adopted and the actions anticipated. Many technical papers do exist which were studied and used when formulating the missions report and advise.

3 Coastal management and development

Regarding coastal management, the mission concentrated on the populated Funafuti as human influence on the coast of this island is considerable and erosion affects many people’s security. Also, on coastal dynamics some well written reports (often with involvement of SPC/SOPAC), are available and were studied by the mission to obtain a detailed picture of the situation in Tuvalu.

For very small reef islands nations like Tuvalu, it is extremely important to maintain a healthy reef ecosystem to avoid issues of eutrophication of the lagoon, overgrowth of coral reefs by algae, loss of fishing grounds, and contamination of the freshwater lens. Even so, Tuvalu is threatened by sea-level rise due to global warming, which pollutes the little-available soil and freshwater supply with saltwater intrusion. King tides and storms further add to the saltwater load on the fragile terrestrial ecosystem. The main issues to address, as to coastal management and preservation of the coastal reefs, are: • The high vulnerability of the low lying atoll to coastal flooding; • Coastal erosion and ad hoc implementation of coastal protection measures without overseeing the consequences; • Increased demand for shelter and housing and need for good planning and urban development; • Increasing environmental degradation caused by waste and wastewater disposal.

This mission mainly focused on climate change and human interruptions and their impact on the shoreline. For the period to 2100, the latest global climate model (GCM) projections and climate science findings for Tuvalu indicate: • El Niño and La Niña events will continue to occur in the future (very high confidence), but there is little consensus on whether these events will change in intensity or frequency; • Ocean acidification is expected to continue (very high confidence) and the risk of coral bleaching will increase in the future (very high confidence); • Sea level will continue to rise (very high confidence); and • Wave height is projected to decrease in December–March (low confidence), waves may be more directed from the South in October (low confidence).

The high vulnerability to rising waters and other climate change effects may require large scale intervention for islands like Funafuti. In this mission report it is advocated to adopt more sustainable shoreline management practices and at the same time investigate the feasibility for e.g. land reclamation to develop the necessary land and water.

The main conclusion of the mission was that Tuvalu has undertaken very useful steps over the last year by refilling the ‘Borrow Pits’ dug in World War II, with the help of the New Zealand Government, and used the presence of the dredging contractor for these works to realize a beach nourishment in front of the Government Building and the only hotel on the island.

The mission advises to engage in further coastal morphological studies for the entire country to better predict erosion / sedimentation processes and on the way forward on how to deal with dynamic coastlines. The mission also recommends that Netherlands expertise is made available to realize two projects that are at present being formulated with coastal defence as a central theme:

1. Provide support to UNDP’s green climate fund (GCF) submissions. UNDP, through Dr. Yusuke Taishi, discussed possible support from The Netherlands in costly GCF preparations, co-financing on tenders regarding proposed GCF activities for Tuvalu (focusing on resilient coastal management, reduction of vulnerability of key coastal infrastructure and development of sustainable financing mechanisms for long term adaptation efforts) and/or capacity building programs related to coastal management.

2. Provide support to the Coalition of Atoll Nations on Climate Change with their “Pacific Rising” plan for the coalition of 5 atoll nations (Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands,

4 Tokelau and Tuvalu: http://pacificrising.org/coalition-low-lying-atoll-nations). The plan (as announced during COP21 in Paris) is global in its scope of participation needed to save the people of these low-lying nations from rising sea levels caused by climate change in order to stop a refugee crisis and save the lives and cultures of their people.

With regard to shoreline management the mission made the following specific recommendations:

· Control the nutrient fluxes from domestic (domestic wastewater leaking from bottomless septic tanks and pit toilets run off into the lagoon) and animal waste (from the localized pig keeping), as this will lead to eutrophication of coastal waters and as such threats to the coastal reefs. In addition, more control on the coastal fisheries is needed as this will affect the sand production and coastal sand supply.

· Refrain from inefficient mangroves plantations and instead invest in restoring the coastal conditions (through Building with Nature measures) that may be beneficial for mangrove ecosystems. So far mangrove plantation projects in Tuvalu were not successful as they were based on planting the wrong species at the wrong location.

· Avail of available storm surge info and global datasets. Many of the external threats like tropical cyclones, King tides, etc. are closely monitored. This information should be used in DRR measures and help optimize calamity preparations (shelters, evacuations) and optimize spatial planning.

· Develop groundwater resources for agricultural purposes following the borrow pit project. Thanks to the filling of the borrow pits some freshwater lenses may be created. These fresh groundwater reserves may be tapped to accommodate local water needs.

5 CONTENTS

Page

List of abbreviations

1 RATIONALE 8 1.1 Background 8 1.2 Problem setting 8

2 CURRENT SITUATION AND PRACTICES 10 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 System description 10 2.3 Socio-economics 13 2.4 Institutional setting and Governance 13 2.5 Borrow Pits Remediation project 14

3 FINAL OBSERVATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 17 3.1 General 17 3.2 Protection of coral reefs 19 3.3 Prevention of coastal erosion 20 3.4 UNDP proposal Tuvalu – Coastal Protection 22 3.5 Coalition of 5 atoll states – Coastal Defense / Early Warning System 23

4 REFERENCES 26

Annex A - Report of activities / minutes of meetings

6 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AIIB Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank ADB Asian Development Bank BPR Borrow Pits Remediation CANCC Coalition of low lying Atoll Nations on the issue of Climate Change COP21 Conference of Parties (Paris) DRR Dutch Risk Reduction ENSO El Niño–Southern Oscillation ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment GCF Green Climate Fund GCM Global Climate Model GDP Gross Domestic Product ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management IPPPC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IWRM Integrated water Resources Management JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency LDC Least Developed Country NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Action NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan NDA National Designated Authorities NSAP National Strategic Action Plan ODS Ozone Depletion Substances PACC Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change PIDF Pacific Island Development Forum SIDS Small Island Developing States SLM Sustainable Land Management SNC Second National Communication SPC South Pacific Commission SOPAC Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission SPREPP Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme TCCP Tuvalu Climate Change Policy WB World Bank UNDP United Nations Development Programme

7 1 RATIONALE

1.1 Background

On September 6th 2015 a request of His Excellency Enele Sopoaga, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu for support of the DRR-Team on coastal protection was sent by email to the Dutch Special Envoy for Pacific SIDS (Annex 1). The email was sent after a brief meeting at the PDIF in Suva in September 2015 between the Prime Minister, Netherlands Ambassador to Tuvalu, Robert Zaagman en Special Envoy Sjef IJzermans.

On January 6, 2016, after an exchange of e-mails, Ambassador Zaagman (Wellington) responded in the form of a proposal for a mission led by Special Envoy IJzermans with one or two technical experts in the areas of coastal protection and dredging to visit Tuvalu in the first week of February 2016. Parties agreed accordingly and the mission of Sjef IJzermans together with Tjitte Nauta, ICZM specialist at Deltares, was fielded between 2 and 9 February. The mission is made possible through the Disaster Risk Reduction Facility (DRR) through which the Netherlands government makes available expertise in the field of water management including specialists dealing with morphology and dynamics of coasts.

The mission took place within a year after typhoon Pam had caused havoc in the region and king tides combined with high waves had inflicted serious damage to Tuvalu where every piece of its long stretched land borders the sea. The team had stopovers in Fiji where the offices of UNDP, SPC, EU and ADB were visited prior and after the stay in Tuvalu.

Scarcity of sufficient fresh water is a major issue in Tuvalu. Water supply in the country is realized through harvested rainwater as average rainfall exceeds annually 3 meters and is rather evenly spread. Roof catchments provide a good base for water supply throughout most of the year. However in extreme dry years, many people had to resort to drinking water produced by the available desalinization plants. Sanitation makes use of septic tanks. Leakage, however, pollutes the groundwater and causes eutrophication of the lagoon, leading to algal growth affecting the corals. This aspect was only marginally looked into by the DRR-Team .

Tuvalu is well aware of the complexity of its situation and has managed to produce many documents that articulate well the status and the possible way forward. Furthermore, regional institutions like SPC (now also including SOPAC), ADB, World Bank and several bilateral donors with Australia and New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan as leading partners, are providing substantial support, both in terms of technical finesse and volume of assistance. The Draft Vulnerability Reduction Plan provides a comprehensive overview of the status quo, the strategies adopted and the actions anticipated.

The objectives of the scoping mission are: - To explore the possibilities to implement long term flood protection measures in Tuvalu; - To elaborate to Tuvalu authorities a roadmap for short-medium- and long-term interventions to reduce the risks and impacts of cyclones and floodings; - To explore the possibilities of international funding from e.g. climate funds.

1.2 Problem setting

The central theme of this mission has been: how can Tuvalu be assured of a permanent physical environment that can provide its population with a sustainable place to live safely and where a viable economy can develop further. Given the expertise of the mission and the expectation of the Tuvalu Government vis-à-vis the Netherlands, the focus of this mission has been put on coastal dynamics against the background of the on-going climate change.

8 Issues to be assessed relate to the stability of the atoll environment of Tuvalu? This question can be further detailed, looking at related issues: - Health of the corals • Increasing temperature of coastal waters with increasing likelihood of the potential for coral bleaching • Increasing acidification of the coastal water also affecting coral growth • Fish stock and biodiversity (among others the presence of the parrot fish) are important in the conversion of corals to sand but also as a source of food. - Coastal erosion • Increase in sea level affecting wave action on the coast • Increase in the intensity of the wet and dry seasons affecting agricultural production and erosion (also subsequently affecting corals) • More intense cyclones (increased wind speed and precipitation) may be leading to erosion. • Sand mining activities (see also Box 1.1)

Changing currents and changing temperatures, not only affect the environment around the coral islands, but also have influence in the deep sea and with that affect presence of pelagic fish and revenues of fishing (rights).

Box 1.1 The left image shows an aerial photograph of Fogafale taken by the United States Military in 1941, in preparation for the occupation of Funafuti, to prevent the Japanese from moving on down from the Gilbert Islands in the north. Clearly visible are the two main villages on Fogafale, Senala in the north, and Vaiaku in the south. The more recent photograph, taken in 2003, shows the runway, initially built by the Americans in 1942, and the spread of the villages since Tuvaluan independence in 1978. Vaiaku, Senala, and a third village, Alapi, in between, are all now one continuous sprawl. Note, the details of the submersed coral reefs on the lagoon side, they appear unchanged after 45 years. However, it appears that the beaches on this side were abundant in sand back then.

Figure 1.1 "Fogafale: Then and Now (1941 & 2003)". Tuvaluislands.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.

9 2 CURRENT SITUATION AND PRACTICES

2.1 Introduction

Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. It comprises three reef islands and six true atolls spread out from 6° to 10° south. Its nearest neighbors are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. Its population of about 12,000 makes it the third-least populous sovereign state in the world. In 1974, the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status. As a consequence Tuvalu separated from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati. Tuvalu became fully independent within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.

Tuvalu is categorized as a Least Developed Country (LDC) due to its relatively low national income, weak human resources, and extreme economic vulnerability to external stresses. Furthermore, it is anticipated that Tuvalu will suffer the greatest from adverse impacts of Climate Change. Catastrophic natural phenomenon in records, and which had devastated Tuvalu occurred in 1891, 1958, 1972 The most well documented tropical hurricane in Tuvalu being the 1972 “Hurricane Bebe” , caused a total collapse of the livelihood of Funafuti residents.

Figure 2.1 Tuvalu

2.2 System description

Key geographical and geological features Tuvalu is an independent constitutional nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean between latitudes 5 degrees and 11 degrees south and longitudes 176 degrees and 180 degrees east (Ref. National Strategic Action Plan). Tuvalu consists of nine small islands scattered over 500,000 km2 of the western Pacific. The islands include Niulakita, Nukulaelae, Funafuti, Nukufetau, Vaitupu, Nui, Niutao, Nanumaga and Nanumea. The total land area is only 27 km2 and all of the islands are less than five meters above sea level (Tuvalu NBSAP 2009). Six of the islands are low lying atolls made up of motus (islets) fringing the edges of lagoons. These are made up of young, poorly developed, infertile, sandy or gravel coralline soils. Nanumaga, Niutao and Niulakita are raised limestone reef islands. Similarly, soils are generally of poor quality, supporting a limited variety of flora.

Coral growth During our field trip in Funafuti lagoon it was obvious that a large part of the corals had died. From observations it appeared that this has been taking place rather recent. Acidification related to increased population numbers seems likely. Worldwide temperatures of seawater increase.

10 Reports of the population indicate diminishing fish populations in the lagoon. This may be related to overfishing. The Government of Tuvalu has created a conservation zone in the bay with an aim to restore fish live.

Erosion As to erosion, it is not evident that his has occurred. One would expect heavy storms to result in serious erosion, however so far this has not been shown. During the very heavy cyclone Bebe that occurred in 1972, the Island was affected and suffered heavy losses and almost all houses were destroyed. However, as to erosion of the atoll itself the picture was more complex.

The reef at the east side of the country was heavily eroded, but this resulted in a high ridge along the entire east side of the Island. To what extent the erosion has affected the quality of the reef itself is not known, and with that indirectly the fish life around the island. Fig 2.2 gives a cross section of the island showing the accretion on the ridge that originates from tropical Cyclone Bebe.

Figure 2.2 Cross-section of Fogafale near Vaiaku showing cyloon Bebe built up ridge.

Tuvalu was severely impacted by Cyclone Pam in March 2015. The cyclone was estimated to have affected 40 percent of the population and caused damage of approx. A$ 14 million or around 33 percent of GDP/ The impact was mainly seen on the outer island infrastructure such as seawalls, but also agriculture and housing (World Bank, 2015).

Prior to the formation of Cyclone Pam, flooding from king tides, which peaked at 3.4 m (11ft) on 19 February 2015, caused considerable road damage across the multi-island nation of Tuvalu. Between March 10 and 11, waves, estimated to be 3–5m (9.8–16.4ft), associated with the cyclone swept across the low-lying islands of Tuvalu. The atolls of Nanumea, Nanumanga,Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Vaitupu were most affected. Significant damage to agriculture and infrastructure occurred. The outermost islands were hardest hit, with one flooded in its entirety. A state of emergency was subsequently declared on March 14. Water supplies on Nui were contaminated by seawater and rendered undrinkable. An estimated 45 percent of the nation's nearly 10,000 people were displaced, according to Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. Damage across the nation amounted to US$92 million.

Figure 2.3 Kalilaia Island before and after

11 Tropical Cyclone Pam

Sea level in Tuvalu with reference to the land is the result of several factors: tectonic movements of the underground, growth of the corals, absolute sealevel rise, El Nino Oscillation, storm surge, wave action.

(from: Willis Eschenbach)

Fig 2.4 Coastal dynamics influencing subsidence or growth of coral islands (see also: ‘The birth of an atoll’: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRD8ZwdPYsY March 25, 2015 - Uploaded by Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation)

Other Water Issues

Although not the main focus of this mission, the DRR-Team familiarized itself in global terms with other water management aspects. The existing water supply, sewerage and sanitation problems are greatest at Funifuti, with some 6,000 inhabitants, mainly at Vaiaku, the center at the west side of the Funifuti Atol.

There is no piped water distribution system. Individual houses generally harvest the rain water from roof catchments in tanks placed near the houses, that mostly have corrugated iron roofs with gutters. A number of houses have small pumps that bring the water in the house through a piped system per house. This leads to relatively high water consumption levels per head. Also, in larger buildings such as the Government building, piped water exists throughout the building. From the collection tanks surplus water is also used to cart out to families in need. Average annual rainfall varies between 2 and 5 meter, with an average total of 3.5 meter. Average monthly rainfall is more than 400 mm in December and lowest in June and October with levels around 200 mm.

As in Funafuti the occupation of houses is quite dense. In some cases up to 15 people sleep in one house, often including visitors from the outer islands. The drinking water supply is supported with two working desalinization plants in the compound of the Public Utilities. These plants pump from wells with brackish water and are powered by the electricity grid. The capacity is respectively 10 m3/day on a continuous base and a 50 m3/day installation that works only during high tide as the well runs dry at low tide. During the wet month from November till March, the combination of private house and (paid for) water supplied from the desalinization plants covers

12 the demand. In the dryer months additional water is supplied from the rainwater tanks of large buildings of the Government and the churches. When stocks run low, water is rationed and increased in price.

In extreme dry years aid organizations have brought in additional, temporal, desalinization plants. At the Southern end of the runway a desalinization plant on solar energy with a capacity of 5 m3/day is no longer operational due to unrepairable sophisticated electronic equipment.

In the other, outer islands population is less and in some cases, the groundwater is less polluted and the groundwater lenses of fresh water, ‘floating’ on the heavier salt groundwater, can add to available drinking water from roof catchments to sustain the communities. However, leaking septic tanks and animals pollute the fresh water lens, aggravated by salt water waves during high sea levels that also affect the available groundwater. By concentrating pig farming to the eastside of Funafuti, east of the airstrip, pollution to the lagoon is much less. Nevertheless, the small lagoon immediately bordering the inhabited land is polluted due to the septic tanks and some pigs, still being held outside the eastern rim.

Waste water and sanitation takes place using septic tanks. Some of them are pumped and the effluent is used for farming. Many houses have pits without bottom leading to pollution of the groundwater and eventually reaches the lagoon. This leads to plant growth and affects coral growth there.

2.3 Socio-economics

Tuvalu’s economy is small, fragmented and highly vulnerable to external economic influences (NSAP). This has led to a heavy reliance on outside development assistance. The economy is unusual in that a substantial amount of both government revenues (income from the capital of Tuvalu Trust Fund, the assets of the ‘dotTV’ internet domain and from fishing license fees paidby foreign fishing vessels) and private incomes (especially remittances from saeamen)n) are generated from overseas.

Agricultural production is limited. Since much of the soil is sandy, high annual rainfall in combination with soil porosity inhibits efforts to improve the soil through fertilizers and therefore agricultural production is limited. The main tree crops are coconuts, pandanus, breadfruit and bananas.

2.4 Institutional setting and Governance

In NSAP and NAPA the institutional setting and governance in Tuvalu is well described.

The National Government is the focal point of all national issues. The new form of governance (Falekaupule Act of 1997) devolved the authority to the Falekaupule and Kaupule (i.e. the traditional assembly and its executive arm) to work together in addressing island and community affairs.

Figure 2.5 Institutional setting

13 2.5 Borrow Pits Remediation project

The overall development of Tuvalu heavily depended on external financing support which has been provided in the past decennia. At present, Tuvalu has considerable resources to carry out its development plans as outlined in TAKEEGA III, its multi-year plan showing the National Strategy for Sustainable Development.

As to its response to the need for assistance following Tropical Cyclone Pam, reference is made to the “Vulnerability Reduction Plan” of 19 May 2015, endorsed by the government on June11, 2015, which details the disaster response, supported by a wide range of donors including the Netherlands.

When looking at activities and projects that aim at coastal protection and the integrity of the main island, the Borrow Pit Remediation project has been of major importance to the country.

When the airfield, which is now Funafuti International Airport, was constructed during World War II the coral base rock of the atoll was used as fill to create the runway. The resulting borrow pits impacted the fresh-water aquifer. In the low areas of Funafuti the sea water can be seen bubbling up through the porous coral rock to form pools with each high tide. Since 1994 a project has been in development to assess the environmental impact of transporting sand from the lagoon to fill all the borrow pits and low-lying areas on Fongafale. In 2013 a feasibility study was carried out and in 2014 the Tuvalu Borrow Pits Remediation (BPR) project was approved, in which all 10 borrow pits were to be filled, leaving only Tafua Pond (which is a natural pond). The New Zealand Government funded the BPR project. The project was carried out in 2015 with 365,000 m3 of sand being dredged from the lagoon to fill the holes and improve living conditions on the island. This project increased the useable land space on Fongafale by eight per cent.

Figure 3.1 cutter suction slurry line spraying sand into borrow pit in Funafuti, Tuvalu; experience is that the sand settles and compacts itself naturally (courtesy NZ Aid)

14 Figure 3.2 before BPR (courtesy NZ Aid)

Figure 3.3 after BPR (courtesy NZ Aid)

Due to the refill of the borrow pits, in the long run the ‘normal’ pattern of a fresh water body ‘floating’ on salt deeper groundwater may be restored to some degree. This would be particularly important for the use of water for nature and agriculture.

15 Figure 3.4 Freshwater lens configuration typical for atoll (Falkland, 1991)

The Government of Tuvalu capitalized on the presence of the dredging company that filled the borrow pits and on its own initiative and costs the Government completed coastal sand suppletion in front of the Government Building and the most important hotel in Funafuti. Between two piers constructed with sandbags a beach nourishment (approx. 100,000 m3 of sand obtained from the Fogafale lagoon) was carried out. Thanks to the presence of the dredging cutter, the cost of this project was relatively inexpensive (approx. 1.8 million AU Dollar).

Figure 3.5 Beach nourishment activities and cutter

16 3 FINAL OBSERVATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 General

Tuvalu has undertaken very useful steps over the last year by refilling the ‘Borrow Pits’ dug in World War II, with the help of the New Zealand Government, and used the presence of the dredging contractor for these works to realize a beach nourishment in front of the Government Building and the only major hotel on the island. With these projects realized it is felt that for the short term the most important coastal protection projects have been addressed.

For the longer term Tuvalu will have to address the issue of sea level rise. In Lin and Cheng (2013) and Hunter (2002) sea level rise is discussed. Hunter (2002) cautiously estimated present long-term sea level rises in Tuvalu at a rate of -1.1 to +2.7 mm/yr relative to land, accounting for the effects of El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. This is of the same magnitude as the global average sea-level rise estimate of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPPC) of 1 – 2 mm/yr. The atolls have shown resilience to gradual sea-level rise (SLR), with atolls and reef islands being able to grow under current climate conditions by generating sufficient sand and broken coral that accumulates and gets dumped on the islands during cyclones. Despite ongoing SLR, aerial photography and satellite images for 27 atoll islands in the Pacific (19 to 61 year period) showed that 86% of islands remained stable (43%) or increased in area (43%). Webb, A. P. and P.S Kench, 2010 stated that: • Atoll islands are geomorphologically persistent features on atoll reef platforms and can increase in island area despite sea level change; • Atoll islands are dynamic landforms that undergo a range of physical adjustments in responses to changing boundary conditions, of which sea level is just one factor; • Erosion of atoll island shorelines must be reconsidered in the context of physical adjustments of the entire island shoreline as erosion may be balanced by progradation on other sectors of shorelines.

Our mission would like to recommend that the island shoreline dynamics should be maintained where possible. Local infrastructure (seawalls, groynes, etc.) may locally protect important areas, but will often have less beneficial impacts on adjacent areas. In case of such protective structures it is advocated to carry out a coastal morpho-dynamic / shoreline management study first. In addition to the natural threats like SLR we believe that anthropogenic threats need to be addressed as they also relate to the quality of the reefs that have formed and protected these atolls over time (i.e. emphasis should be on the influence of coastal structures, pollution and overfishing of reef species like the Parrot fish). Most of these fish actually do not feed on corals itself but are looking for algae that are inhabiting coral reefs. They actually help corals by not allowingalgae to choke them. Parrotfish are very important agents of bio-erosion and contribute to a stable coast. One parrotfish can make 90 kg of coral sand a year. Parrotfish depend on coral reefs just as coral reefs depend on them.

Xue (2003) stated that the coastal geological events in Tuvalu islands do not accord with the features resulted from sea level rise, but do accord with the features resulted from coastal erosion particularly from human-induced erosion. Land loss at Tuvalu is mainly caused by inappropriate human activities including coastal engineering and aggregate mining and partly caused by cyclones.

The risk remains, however, that the dynamic response of atolls and reef islands does not result in stable islands as tropical cyclones can strip the low-lying islands of their vegetation and soil. Tepuka Vili Vili islet of Funafuti atoll was devastated by Cyclone Meli in 1979, with all its vegetation and most of its sand swept away during the cyclone. Vasafua islet, part of the Funafuti Conservation Area, was severely damaged by Cyclone Pam in 2015. The coconut palms were washed away, leaving the islet as a barren sand bar. The situation for Kalilaia at Nukulaelae is similar (see figure 2.3).

17 A full understanding of currents, waves, sand movements and coastal morphology is necessary in order to be able to predict future behaviour of coastlines and beach forming. It is advisable to pool resources to get a full understanding of these variables in concert with institutions that have worked on these issues. In order to bring in experiences and best practices from elsewhere close collaboration between research institutions like SPREP, SPC and Deltares would be worthwhile exploring. The mission made the following specific recommendations:

Figure 4.1 Planting mangroves in Tuvalu to protect the shoreline from erosion (Source: Japan International Cooperation Agency - JICA).

While it is recognised that the dense and complex aerial roots of mangroves can be very effective sediment traps that reduce coastal erosion, and also serve to dissipate wave energy one has to be mindful when planting juvenile mangroves not to plant in high energy zones. The best sites are those with low energy traffic. Likewise, mangrove plantation activities often make use of the wrong species. In Tuvalu, none of the plantation activities to date have been successful.

· Avail of storm surge info and global datasets. Many of the external threats like tropical cyclones, king tides, etc. should be closely watched. This information should be used for DRR measures and help optimize calamity preparations (shelters, evacuations) and optimize spatial planning. In general it can be stated that much information can be easily obtained nowadays through global datasets or accessible websites.

Figure 4.2 Example of readily available sealevel information.

· Develop groundwater resources for agricultural purposes following the borrow pit proposal. Thanks to the filling of the borrow pits some freshwater lenses may be created. These fresh groundwater reserves may be tapped to accommodate local water needs.

18 As first indications of the way forward the following approach is recommended: · Accept the islands shoreline dynamics (where possible): proposed seawalls and beach nourishments on other, less populated, islands need to be preceded with coastal morpho-dynamic / shoreline management studies. · Realise that the anthropogenic threats may be more important than the natural impacts. In this respect the quality of the reefs is of utmost importance, section 4.2. Pollution, section 4.3, and overfishing need to be addressed adequately. With respect to overfishing of reef species like the parrotfish the following is recommended: o Protect parrotfish via fisheries laws and regulations; o Monitoring and enforcing these restrictions, while working with local communities to minimize impact on fishing livelihoods / providing education on the importance and the benefits of these measures to communities and stakeholders.

· Undertake joint initiatives to access international financing institutions, using scientific inputs on the physics and economic analyses to approach institutions as the Green Climate Fund. Underpin on-going project initiatives with such analytic analyses. The following projects as example (sections 4.3 and 4.4). • UNDP Coastal Projection Project. • Coalition of 5 atoll nations (COP21)

3.2 Protection of coral reefs

The Reefs at Risk Revisited analysis (Chine et al., 2011) shows that Tuvalu’s coral reefs are currently most threatened by over-fishing and coastal development. However, these threats appear to be quite localised (particularly around Funafuti) and most reefs are currently assessed as being at low risk. When the thermal stress over the past 10 years is integrated with local threats, the percentage of threatened reefs in Tuvalu increases from about 15% to more than 30%. By 2030, projections for thermal stress and ocean acidification suggest that all of Tuvalu’s coral reefs will be threatened. The full report, methods and full size maps are on: http://www.wri.org/reefs.

One of the biggest current concerns on Funafuti is the proper disposal of wastes, especially sewage (both human and from animals) and domestic effluents. The high loads of nitrates and phosphates in these effluents, which eventually all percolate through the porous atoll sandy soil and end up in the lagoon, have disastrous effects on the shallow water table of the atolls, and their coastal environment. The most conspicuous manifestation of such pollution is usually the appearance of algal blooms, which can take the form of micro- or macro-algal proliferations (for instance invasive Sargassum species which has become a great problem in Funafuti, Tuvalu following a drought in 2011).

Figure 4.3 Example of a polluted coastal environment in Fongafale, Funafuti , Tuvalu leading to a brown belt of Sargassum seaweed facing populated areas (Photo: Paeniu et al, 2015)

19 The synergy of weather events like droughts and anthropogenic factors such as the direct dumping of sewage into the lagoons and use of the sea for cleaning and washing further exacerbates the issue. Ocean acidification as a result of higher CO2 loads in the atmosphere stemming from the burning of fossil fuels threaten to fragilize the calcified algal ridges of atoll coral reefs, making shorelines more vulnerable to wave surges, tsunamis and coastal erosion. Anthropogenic pollution is of great concern for coastal conservation as reef island sediments are produced by coral, coralline algae, molluscs and large benthic foraminifera that live in adjacent reefs. In Central Pacific atolls like Tuvalu corals and foraminifera are the primary producers of sand-sized sediments (Fujita et al, 2013). Coral reefs on the ocean side act as a natural breakwater. When a reef is healthy it has an upward growth potential of as much as 40 cm/100 years, which matches the median predicted value of sea level rise. Thus a healthy coral reef has the potential to keep up with rising sea level (Kayanne et al., 2005). Recent studies have suggested that reef islands and adjacent coral reefs located near densely populated areas are affected by waste water discharge and waste disposal leading to high nutrient concentrations (eutrophication). These conditions cause changes in benthic foraminiferal communities leading to a decrease in sediment supply. This in turn has the potential to lead to coastal erosion. In Fuhita et al, 2013 the eutrophication of the lagoon in Tuvalu has been described. The study determined that despite the fact that 92% of the households have access to improved sanitary conditions many of the septic tanks have no sealed bottoms, leading to a leaking of waste water under ebb conditions. Since the bottom surface area on a reef is limited, reef organisms have to compete for space. They all need a hard bottom to attach themselves to and cannot grow on top of each other. With low nutrient concentrations corals are able to keep algae away and overgrow them. With high nutrient levels, as the case in the Fanufuti lagoon, algae get a competitive advantage and start to overgrow corals. As algae do not calcify, reef growth is reduced. An important factor influencing the coral vs. macro-algae competition is fisheries. Many fish eat macro-algae. When these fish are removed, the control on macro-algal growth is removed, which is again bad for corals. On a more complex ecosystem level, eutrophication can lead to an increase in bacteria, phytoplankton and their consumers in the water column. More particles become available in the water column and bio-eroders, such as boring sponges and mussels can use this extra food. This leads to more drilling of holes in the coral skeleton, which weakens the corals. If their skeleton is not strong, they easily break off during storms. Again, to the detriment of corals and the natural protection of atolls.

3.3 Prevention of coastal erosion

There are different adaptation response strategies that can be considered for reducing coastal erosion, protection of human life and ecosystems (Paenie et al. 2015): retreat, accommodate or protect. In a retreat approach coastal system processes will remain undisturbed and coastal dynamics will be allowed (i.e. no effort is made to protect the land from the sea and the coastal zone is abandoned). This choice can be motivated by excessive costs or environmental impacts of protection. In the extreme case certain areas may have to be abandoned. Accommodation implies that people continue to use the land at risk but do not attempt to prevent the land from being flooded / altered. In practice this means that the land use is changed. This option includes erecting emergency flood shelters, elevated buildings on piles and growing flood or salt tolerant crops. Protection involves hard and soft engineering approaches to protect the land (people and infrastructure) from the sea so that existing land use can continue. Although the first two options would make sense for the Outer Islands and the last one for the populated Funafuti, in practice, a multi-layer safety approach, as adopted in The Netherlands, should be considered blending these three choices. In practice this could imply costly options to protect some important infrastructure on Outer Islands to sustain local livelihood / avoid migration to the main island.

20 In Paenie et al. (2015) best practices for coastal protection in the Pacific are given (as a general guide). Coastal protection interventions in the Pacific basically fall into two categories: non- structural adaptation and structural adaptation approaches. The best practices on coastal protection that are viewed as non-structural were identified as: · Knowledge of coastal processes · Policy on working alongside with nature and not against it · Retreat, accommodate and protect approach · Environmental Impact Assessment framework · Foreshore regulation · Locally Managed Marine Areas, Marine Protected Areas and Conservation Areas · National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan · Integrated Coastal Zone Management approach · Adopt ‘ridge to reef’ approach · Established engineering standard framework · Active Building Code

Interventions that were classified as structural fall into two parts: The soft measures and the hard measures. The soft measure approaches identified included: · Maintaining a healthy reef islands and islets · Protection and restoration of sea grass and algal ecosystems · Maintaining healthy fringing and barrier coral reefs · Planting Mangroves · Planting coastal vegetation (littoral plants) · Stabilizing Coastal beaches · Beach nourishment

The hard measure approaches were: · Seawalls · Groynes · Revetments · Gabions · Breakwaters · Geotextile Containers

However, the above options (especially the structural measures) should be examined carefully prior to selection and implementation.

In Tuvalu, the JICA-funded Foram Sand Project, the first phase of which was implemented on the 1st of April 2009 and ended on March 31st 2014, had the objective “to increase the resilience of the Tuvalu coast against sea level rise through ecosystem rehabilitation and regeneration and through engineering support for sand production and sedimentation processes”. The project’s purpose was to develop a model of the sand production and transportation processes in the Tuvalu lagoon, taking into account human activities and global warming. Following this, specific eco-engineering techniques were to be developed to create and/or restore sandy beaches eroded by coastal processes, see Figure 4.4. A combined gravel / sand nourishment was piloted to disseminate wave energy and prevent the sand to be backwashed from the beach.

21 Figure 4.4 JICA pilot beach/gravel nourishment

3.4 UNDP proposal Tuvalu – Coastal Protection

In Tuvalu a number of Adaptation programmes exist: · NAPA1 (National Adaptation Plan of Action) · SNC (Second National Communication) · SLM (Sustainable Land Management) · ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances) · FORAM SAND (Japan sand replenishment on Funafuti) · PACC (Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [Water]) · IWRM (Integrated Water Resource Management)

The Government of Tuvalu also prepared the following documents: · Tuvalu Climate Change Policy (TCCP) · National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP)

As a follow up of ongoing UNDP activities the following activities are proposed and aimed to be financed under the Green Climate Fund:

1.1 Technical capacity, knowledge and Strengthening of institutions, human awareness strengthened for monitoring, resources, awareness and knowledge for protection and maintenance of coastal protection resilient coastal management infrastructure

22 1.2 Long-term national human resource capacity and awareness enhanced for sustainable coastal protection

Vulnerability of key coastal infrastructure 2.1 Coastal protection design, site-specific including homes, schools, hospitals and other assessments and ESIA undertaken in all islands assets is reduced against wave induced in a participatory manner damages in Funafuti, Nanumea and Nanumaga 2.2 Coastal protection measures implemented

3.1 All Islands Strategic Plans and annual budgets integrate island-specific climate risks through gender sensitive, participatory A sustainable financing mechanism processes established for long-term adaptation efforts 3.2 Capacity of Kaupules, Falekaupules and community members strengthened for monitoring coastal adaptation investments

UNDP, through Dr. Yusuke Taishi, would like to see a role for The Netherlands in co-financing the expensive project preparation phase, help co-finance activities under a Green Climate Fund project and support UNDP in capacity building activities.

3.5 Coalition of 5 atoll states – Coastal Defense / Early Warning System

As described in this mission report reef islands and their populations, like Tuvalu, are vulnerable to a range of factors, including sea level rise. The most anticipated physical impacts of sea level rise are shoreline erosion, inundation, flooding, salinity intrusion and reduced resilience of the coastal ecosystem. In addition degradation of coral reefs caused by anthropogenic impacts will accelerate the onset of serious problems. Therefore studies and decision-support and early warning systems are required to implement effective countermeasures to protect these reef islands and support disaster risk reduction activities.

This mission proposes to draft a proposal for the GCF to enhance the knowledge on coastal and reef processes at atoll islands in order to develop future decision-support and early warning systems. Such systems can be used to test the applicability of possible measures as presented in section 4.2. This could be a first collaboration between the various research teams (like the regional ones SPC and SPREPP).

It is proposed to develop such a proposal together with CANCC. Describing themselves as an Early Warning System for the global community, the CANCC - the Coalition of Low Lying Atoll Nations on the issue of Climate Change was formed, comprising of Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Tokelau and Tuvalu. Uniting to join forces to focus global attention on the plight of their people, these atoll nations are barely three meters above sea-water level. The CANCC inaugural meeting was held in Tarawa, Kiribati in July this year (2015) and is an open coalition inclusive of potential atoll islands including country and development partners genuinely interested in supporting their cause. CANCC calls upon support for the immediate resourcing of options aimed at building resilience for their people through support of a number of urgent priorities, these being the protection and supplementation of their water resources, coastline protection, resilient infrastructure and sustainable development initiatives, raising the CANCC

23 islands to heights above the predicted sea level rise and strengthening their population’s preparedness through education, workforce skills, communication and public awareness.

Figure 5.1 Research program in field and in laboratory on wave transformation across reefs with USGS and U. Western Australia

Possible accredited implementation entities: ADB, WB, Conservation International, SPREPP, UNDP, etc.

How to prepare a proposal Roles of NDAs and focal points

Figure 5.2 GCF proposal development

To develop Green Climate Fund project close interaction is required with the National Designated Authorities (NDA).

24 The NDA’s for the 5 atoll nations are:

· Marshall Islands Mr. Lowell Alik Director Office of Environmental Planning & Policy Coordination (OEPPC) Office of the President Republic of the Marshall Islands Tel. + 692 625 7944 Fax + 692 7918

· Maldives NDA: Ministry of Environment and Energy Mr. Amjad Abdulla Director General Climate Change Department Green Building, Handhuvaree Hingu, Maafannu Malé, 20392, Republic of Maldives Tel. +960 301 8300 E-mail: [email protected]

· Kiribati NDA: Ministry of Finance & Economic Development Mr. Jason Reynolds Director of National Economic Planning office P.O. Box 647 Tarawa, Kiribati Tel. +686 21806 (ext 212) E-mail: [email protected]

· Tuvalu NDA: Government of Tuvalu Hon. Enele Sosene Sopoaga Prime Minister Office of the Prime Minister Vaiaku, Funafuti, Tuvalu Tel. +688 20815 E-mail: [email protected].

During the mission Prime minister Hon. Enele Sosene Sopoaga, who presently chairs the coalition, was very supportive to this idea and offered help with the proposal preparation.

Finally, many alternative funding options exist in the form of regular technical assistance and loan arrangements of International Financing Institutions (WB, ADB, AIIB, UNDP, etc.), donor funding (JICA, KOICA, AUSAID, New Zealand Aid, etc.) or through special (research) programmes (SPC, SPREPP, etc.).

25 4 REFERENCES

Chin, A., Lison De Loma, T., Reytar, K., Planes, S., Gerhardt, K., Clua, E., and Burke, L., Wilkinson, C. (2011). Status of Coral Reefs of the Pacific and Outlook: 2011. Publishers Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. 260 P.

Falkland, A., 1991. Hydrology and water resources of small islands: a practical guide. A contribution to the International Hydrological Programme Paris, France: United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations.

Fujita, M., • J. Suzuki, • D. Sato , Y. Kuwahara, H. Yokoki and H. Kayanne, 2013. Anthropogenic impacts on water quality of the lagoonal coast of Fongafale Islet, Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu. Sustain Sci (2013) 8:381–390.

Hunter, J., 2002. A note on relative sea level change at Funafuti, Tuvalu. Antartic Cooperative Research Center, Hobart, Australia.

Gov Tuvalu TE KAKEEGA III National strategy for Sustainable Development 2016 -2020 Gov Tuvalu - Tuvalu Tropical Cyclone Pam Recovery: Vulnerability Reduction Plan

Kayanne H, Chikamori M, Yamano H, Yamaguchi T, Yokoki H, Shimazaki H (2005) Interdisciplinary approach for sustainable land management of atoll islands. Global Environ Res 9(1): 1–7.

Kayanne, H et al. (2005): Seawater carbonate chemistry during a Ishigaki Island (Japan) coral reef seasonal observations, 2005. doi:10.1594/PANGAEA 718250.

Lin, C and Y. Cheng, 2013. Interpreting and analysing King Tide in Tuvalu. Nat. hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 14.

Paeniu L, Iese V, Jacot Des Combes H, De Ramon N’Yeurt A, Korovulavula I, Koroi A, Sharma P, Hobgood N, Chung K and Devi A. (2015). Coastal Protecti on: Best Practi ces from the Pacifi c. Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development. (PaCE-SD). The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

Webb, A. P. and P.S Kench, 2010. The dynamic response of reef islands to sea level rise: evidence from multi-decadal analysis of island change in the central pacific - Global and Planetary Change.

Xue, C., 2004. Causes of land loss in Tuvalu, a small island nation in the Pacific. Journal of Ocean University of China. Vol. 4, no. 2.

26 ANNEX A – REPORT OF ACTIVITIES / BRIEF MINUTES OF MEETINGS

Table A1 Overview of meetings DRR-team

Person/Organization Issues Addressed/Notes

FEBRUARI 1, 2016 (Monday) SUVA

Ms Akiko Fujii , Deputy Resident Representative; Ms General introduction of our DRR mission Osnat Lubrani , Resident Representative; Shoko Discussion ongoing activities of the UNDP and the Takimoto, Regional Specialist Climat Change various donor funded projects, among which the NAPA Adaptation of Tuvalu.

UNDP office for Fiji, FSM, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Interest to cooperate on coastal defence issues in NAPA Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, II, which will cover the next 4 years and is about to start Vanuatu. after a 2 years extension of phase I.

Ambassador Andrew Jacobs, Head Delegation EU for Discussion on EU activities in Tuvalu. the Pacific; Jesús Laviña. Head Infrastructure and Natural Resources; Ilenea Maretescu. Attaché Tropical Cyclone Pam Recovery. Vulnerability Reduction Plan. Prepared by Government Tuvalu with support of humanitarian and development community.

Discussion on pro’s and cons of sea walls

FEBRUARI 2 (Tuesday) Arrival TUVALU FUNAFUTI (11.30

Ms Manaema Saitala Discussions on program. Senior Advisor Asia & Europe Division, Ministry Foreign Affairs & Ms Marilyn Simmons Trip on island Fogafale: first familiarisation with Senior Advisor Pacific Affairs Division, environment of capital island. Ministry Foreign Affairs

FEBRUARY 3 (Wednesday)

27 Avafoa Sima Lua , Secretary Ministry of Public Utilities Discussions on Utilities Tuvalu; Water supply and sanitation: based on rain harvesting; distribution by trucks, where needed. Desalinisation capacity 5 m3/day. Energy target 20/20. Solar energy gaining importance. Groundwater affected by salinization and pollution.

FEBRUARY 4, (Thursday)

Tomu Hauma, Coordinator TANGO (Tuvalu Discussions on role TANGO. Effects of seawalls, Association of NGO’s) disturbing natural dynamics. Ms Puanita Ewekia

Mr Soseala S. Tinilau Discussion on NAPA 2; coastal defence, damage NAPA 2 Project Coordinator typhoon Pam.

H.E. Prime Minister Enele Sopoanga Purpose of Mission. Relations NL – Tuvalu. Role NL in coastal studies: NAPA II, Coastal Defense and Cooperation atoll SIDS Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga, Tokelau and Maldives.

H.E. Minister Taukelina Finikaso (Foreign Affairs, Relations NL-Tuvalu. Expertise in coastal development Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour) and management. Importance of involvement in outer islands

Meteorological Office. Rainfall and wind data to be supplied by mail. Climate and weather data. Info on Climate Change Adaptation by Australian Aid.

Richard Gokrun, Head Weather Forecast. Info on information on weather forecast and typhoon warning.

Mr Peter Oliver, Project Manager Borrow Pits Filling Project info and ‘Tour d’ Horizon’ ongoing engineering projects on the island.

FEBRUARY 5 (Friday)

Visiting Borrow Pits Visit to Borrow Pits, Waste disposal and some coastal sites

FEBRUARI 6 (Saturday)

Avafoa Sima Lua, Secretary Ministry of Public Public Field visit to other islands in Funifutu Atol: Falefatu Utilities, and officials from Ministry of Fisheries and morphology change after hurricane Bebe (1972); Finance development of reef in Laguna of Funafuti

FEBRUARY 7 (Sunday)

Hotel Report writing

28 FEBRUARY 8, (Monday)

[email protected] Coastal Protection Project 32 mln $ over 7 years

Possible NL involvement once project has started. (detailing design)

Seveleni Kapua Water Supply and Sanitation. Malofou Sopoaga Dep Director Public Utilities Landownership, 25 yr lease by Kasadpeola members Director Lands

FEBRUARY 9 (Tuesday)

Travel to Suva

Robert Jauncey, ADB Suva

Travel to Nadi

FEBRUARY 10 (Tuesday)

Travel to Manila, via Seoul