WOMEN, girls and children in the Pacific continue to be the most affected and vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Sharing their experiences during the Women Defending the Commons symposium in Kadavu, women say that the set backs brought about by the changes in climatic conditions affected their daily household chores and livelihoods.
Some of these women shared that the inequality and discrimination experienced by them were more amplified by climate change.
Women felt that even though they were greatly impacted, they did not have the information and resources needed to cope with changes implemented.
In many cases, women said that resources were available from Government and non-governmental agencies, but they did not know how to access them.
King tides are usually observed between November to February in Kadavu says Soqosoqo Vakamarama president Ilisapeci Nasau.
Ms Nasau says there had been regular incidences of high-tide at least twice a month and strong storm surges that were accompanied by king tides that caused major coastal erosion.
She said coastal plants important to the livelihood of the communities such as coconut trees, pandanus — and plants for medicinal purposes such as dabi (Xylocarpus granatum), and dilo (Calophyllum inophyllum) — were constantly washed away. She said as women were most affected as they used most of these plants for medical purposes.
Recently, Ms Nasau said villagers were trying to find seedlings of these plants to replant on their shore where they used to be found abundantly in the past.
Kasanita Leba of Drue said common marine food such as land crabs or lairo, and kaikoso were slowly disappearing and were hard for women to find because of coastal erosion and sea-level rise.
Ms Leba said women had to spend longer periods at sea finding for seafoods and in the process exposed themselves to sickness.
She said salt water intrusion has also begun to affect coconut trees ability to consistently bear fruits.
In the village of Dravuwalu on Kadavu, villagers have seen for themselves the effects of Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston after it ravaged the island damaging infrastructure, affecting livelihoods and everyday living of villagers.
Villagers of Dravuwalu continue to leave with the scar of TC Winston as two main bridges in the village connecting close to 60 homes remain damaged since 2016 affecting movement in the village during high tide and heavy rain.
Despite being visited by damage assessors from Government in 2016 following the cyclone, Dravuwalu native Moli Loanakadavu said they were still waiting on assistance to reconstruct the two damaged bridges.
Ms Loanakadavu said the current crossing made by villages from a single pine post in their attempt to maintain movement in the village was a hazard.
She said children and women found it hard to use the bridge during rainy weather.
“The condition of the bridges has made it hard for elders to move around the village and visit their own kinsmen,” she said.
“There have been talks of fundraising to reconstruct the bridges but villagers already are burdened with their own financial commitments relying on farming and fishing as their source of income.
“Women in the village are more worried about sea water intrusion into the village which seems to worsen with every high tide which continues to eat away precious land and threaten homes.”
Women Defending the Commons coordinator Viva Tatawaqa, says one of the most serious concerns from organisation Diverse Voices for Action (DIVA), was the absence of women’s voice in decision making processes regarding climate change policies.
Ms Tatawaqa said women’s voices continue to be suppressed despite the fact that they were at the front line in the protection of resources and were more
knowledgeable about their natural ecosystems.
