PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:26 PM by Luigi

Samoans get a food booklet to help prepare for cyclones
Apia (PINA Nius Online, 15 December 2002)

How do you turn disasters into an opportunity to put development on the fast track? In Samoa a United Nations inter-agency theme group has launched a booklet on combating the impacts of cyclones on coastal and marine areas. It focuses on ways to ensure people have enough safe and nutritious food despite cyclones.

The booklet has been put together by the inter-agency theme group on Rural Development and Food Security. This group is one of the initiatives by the United Nations agencies in Samoa to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Weather experts have recently warned that Samoa is one of the countries facing an increased risk of a cyclone in the South Pacific hurricane season, which is just beginning. This is because of the El Nino weather phenomenon. During an El Nino period, countries at higher risk to tropical cyclones are those in the lower latitudes and in the central parts of the region. This means Samoa, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Niue and French Polynesia.

The United Nations agencies theme group said there is a need to enhance public awareness on factors such as how cyclones threaten food security and ways to mitigate this. The booklet looks at ways of handling land-based food crops before, during and after cyclones. It provides information on the effects of cyclones on coastal and marine areas and ways to minimise damage.

As well it introduces readers to concepts of long-term sustainable use and management practices of aquatic resources. These are necessary to lessen adverse impact on cyclones and enable faster recovery of affected areas.Increased resilience or faster recovery of damaged coastal and aquatic habitats, which are sources of fish and seafoods, would help access to safe and nutritious food.

The United Nations Development Programme's Apia office provided SAT$8000 (US$2500) towards the publication. UNDP Resident Representative Joyce Yu said: “The release of this booklet signals a continuing effort between the United Nations Country Team and in particular the Rural Development and Food Security Theme Group and also government in addressing disaster issues.”

Seumanutafa Malaki Iakopo, Samoa's Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, expressed appreciation and support. He noted that the island ecosystems are vulnerable to any cyclones. The information contained in the booklet will be widely used not only by the ministry but also the Samoan public, Seumanutafa said.



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DIVA-GIS	Monday, December 16, 2002 Posted 1:26 PM by Luigi Samoans get a food booklet to help prepare for cyclones Apia (PINA Nius Online, 15 December 2002) How do you turn disasters into an opportunity to put development on the fast track? In Samoa a United Nations inter-agency theme group has launched a booklet on combating the impacts of cyclones on coastal and marine areas. It focuses on ways to ensure people have enough safe and nutritious food despite cyclones. The booklet has been put together by the inter-agency theme group on Rural Development and Food Security. This group is one of the initiatives by the United Nations agencies in Samoa to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Weather experts have recently warned that Samoa is one of the countries facing an increased risk of a cyclone in the South Pacific hurricane season, which is just beginning. This is because of the El Nino weather phenomenon. During an El Nino period, countries at higher risk to tropical cyclones are those in the lower latitudes and in the central parts of the region. This means Samoa, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Niue and French Polynesia. The United Nations agencies theme group said there is a need to enhance public awareness on factors such as how cyclones threaten food security and ways to mitigate this. The booklet looks at ways of handling land-based food crops before, during and after cyclones. It provides information on the effects of cyclones on coastal and marine areas and ways to minimise damage. As well it introduces readers to concepts of long-term sustainable use and management practices of aquatic resources. These are necessary to lessen adverse impact on cyclones and enable faster recovery of affected areas.Increased resilience or faster recovery of damaged coastal and aquatic habitats, which are sources of fish and seafoods, would help access to safe and nutritious food. The United Nations Development Programme's Apia office provided SAT$8000 (US$2500) towards the publication. UNDP Resident Representative Joyce Yu said: “The release of this booklet signals a continuing effort between the United Nations Country Team and in particular the Rural Development and Food Security Theme Group and also government in addressing disaster issues.” Seumanutafa Malaki Iakopo, Samoa's Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, expressed appreciation and support. He noted that the island ecosystems are vulnerable to any cyclones. The information contained in the booklet will be widely used not only by the ministry but also the Samoan public, Seumanutafa said. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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