A number of workshops planned - Awareness workshops on disaster risk reduction and preparedness to enhance the communities understanding of disaster mitigation and preparedness, workshop on climate change and adaptation, awareness workshop on the impacts of logging and mining industries to educate the community people about the negative impacts of destructive developments.
Proposed field trips to God Ridge mining site and any logging sites on Guadalcanal for first hand experience of the negative impacts of such activities on the environment.
NGOs'- FSPI/SIDT already organized a workshop on 07/04/2012 for the communities.
Community members were paid according to the number of yellow bamboo trees planted. With a proposed 2000 yellow bamboo trees to plant, 893 have already been planted. The approach taken motivates the people to plant bamboo trees and also financially contributes to their living.
Planning gef grant
It is possible only if the reliablity after some years can be confirmed by relevent authority and scientifically proven to be used.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Project is going to be used as a model by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Solomon Islands Development Trust (SIDT) for other communities who are also affected by flooding in the country. FSPI will also link the Vavata Development Association to the Marau Community Association in East Guadalcanal to share lessons learnt and establish a network with the provincial government to enable sustainability of community initiatives through the provincial government's recognition and support to promoting awareness of global environment.
Notable Community Participation
The Vavata development association was advised to plant yellow banboos to prevent flood by a techical consultant who was organizing stakeholder consultation for Disaster Management project funded by UNDP. Thus, CBO applied for the SGP to carry out the suggested activities.
Policy Impact
The main policy impacted by this project are Climate Change, disaster Risk managment , Land degradatiion and Agriculture. The use of bamboo with special root system has been proven to mitage agains flooding in which washes away top soil, and eroding and flooding food gardens of the communitiies This has been seen as a local and natural technology that could can be replicated in other parts of the country with similar problems. The 200o plant will be used for planting matrials tha will be used in other areas.
Policy Influence
The main policy influnced during the implementation are that of Climate Change adaptation and mitigation, Land degradation and Diaster Risk management.
Linkages gef projects
The project is in line with DRM, Climate change and land degradation. Where communities, utilizing locally available resources to use, also helping others who do not have the knowledge in the use of that species of bamboo. This could help to benefit other people in other countries as well.
Project sustainability
The project is sustainable, as the bamboo itself is a material that is widely used in different communities of the country. The other usage such as in furniture and build of homes, sets to earn the community income in the future if they sell bamboo for those who needs them.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The project targeted population is around 1000 which, includes indigenous men, women and youths from four communities and three institutions. All the community members are involved in the planting of yellow bamboo and sago palm trees. Few community members have already started even before the implementation period of the project. The communities have been very instrumental in driving the activities forward and have been very proactive in contributing constructive ideas because they recognized the essence of this disaster risk reduction approach.
Planning non gef grant
The scaling up using non GEF grants is possible, dependant on the result in the long term of the current project. it is a prospect, that is being consider if verification after a few years confirms the reliabiity of the system.
Replication of project activities
The use of Yellow bamboo as a mitigation measure is new and a very unique one since this is the first place that it has been used to hold soild along the river banks from eroding and protecting farms from excessive flooding. The project replication of activities to other area is possible, as other communties are also facing the same situation at Tanaeba.
Gender Focus
Women, men and youths are involved and participating in every project activity. The activities address the needs of every one - men, women, youths and children.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Yellow bamboo and sago palms are significant as a mitigation measure for disasters caused by flooding but also important as means of cash income for the communities. Yellow bamboo has a high market demand and sago palm leaves and trunk are good materials for building of houses.
Planting of yellow bamboo and sago palms will help to prevent eroding of fertile soil for the communities to plant food gardens and grow cash crops.
Project Results
The completion of the project has resulted in 2,000 bamboos being planted along 20 KM stretch of river bank. The participation of the communties, and three Institutions in the area had made it very special, where the knowledge and experience gained from that project will be spread to other islands of the country. Whilst, the c ommunities, are now experiencing mproved resilence in terms of Agricutural farm protection from flooding also ensureing that food security is mantained and potential future income is assured when planting materials for other projects can be taken from the planted lots. Also, the need for bamboo materials for furniture and buidling of homes in the future will also earn considerable income for the communities, and individuals who have planted the bamboos.
The participation of the communties and Institutions also help build their capacity interms of DRM and impact of climate change. The workshops held made people aware of the measures and plans that is needed to protect themselves and their properties when natural disaster does happen.
