Community Empowerment for local responses to climate change
Community Empowerment for local responses to climate change– Coastal flooding in Rural Coastal Nigeria
Scientific evidences showed that Nigerian coastal communities are routinely inundated by devastation floods from Atlantic and distributaries of River Niger due to sea level rise and coastal submergence (Fabiyi & Enaruveb 2014; Fabiyi & Oloukoi 2013; Fabiyi 2008; Etuonovbe 2007 and Awosika 1995).
Therefore it is not enough for people to know about climate change effects on their lives in order to be engaged; they also need to care about it, be motivated and able to take action (Lorenzoni et al., 2007, p. 446).
Consequently CHUSSDEV embarked on engaging the rural coastal communities in Nigeria on the effects of sea level rise and empowered them on ways to minimize damages from ocean and river flood occurrences.
CHUSSDEV introduced modern methods to combat the effect of ocean surges, sea level rise and the effects of flooding on livelihoods of the littoral communities. Twenty communities were selected in five littoral states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states for pilot interventions.
Activities
Remote sensing technique was earlier adopted to estimate the rate of sea level rise and coastal subsidence over a period of 30 years. It was observed that the sea was gradually but steadily submerging coastal communities in the western end of the coast around Ogun , Ondo and part of Delta states while deposition is taking place in Bayelsa and Rivers states creating autonomous fishing camps and communities. The result of study was used to advocate for community actions toward ameliorating the effects of ocean surges and river flooding. Selected community volunteers were trained on how to read and interpret weather station and flood gauges therefore predict the impending flooding and estimate potential disasters beforehand. They were also trained on simple emergency responses. Electronic weather stations and flood gauges were installed in each of the 20 selected communities to enable them respond to potential flood before it occur and how to reduce the potential disasters from ocean and river floods. BCC materials were printed and distributed on responses to ocean floods
Outcomes
The communities were empowered to read weather information from weather stations and flood gauges to predict with minimum accuracy the potential flood disasters in their communities. They usually respond by alerting people whose dwellings are at the bank of creeks or shoreline to vacate before flood water arrives, Local schools also grant pupils flood holidays while market activities were cancelled to minimize damages from flood. Community cooperatives were set up to help affected families during flood disasters. They were also encouraged to build on elevated pile foundation that is higher than the flood zone at different times. The flood zones in most littoral communities steadily increase by
1.5 meters every ten years. The community volunteers were brought together for further training and to share their experiences with.
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