PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 4:16 PM by Tevita

People move inland to flee rising sea level

From : PACNEWS

PNG – GLOBAL WARMING : THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Wed 21 May 2008

People move inland to flee rising sea level

21 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Elders in the Duke of York Islands in East New Britain of Papua New Guinea
(PNG) have expressed concern over global warming which is causing most of their islands to disappear slowly, reports The National.

The islands have 21 wards and some, during the past five to 10 years, have been subjected to rise in sea level, forcing the people to be relocated inland.

At the Nakukur ward, about 60 families that used to live near the beach, had packed up and moved inland 2 to 3 years ago.

Nakukur elders Judas Kalasiel, 70, Topin Temeren, 62, and Malari Uding, 53, said it was a big worry for them as elders even though today’s young generation was not realising this.

They said there had been no local authority or stakeholder who had come out to tell the islanders what they were planning to help them.

“Now we can see the reef from the beach and our fishing grounds have since stretched far,” they said.

At the Kumaina ward, village leader Samuel Tobainga said about 60 families had moved inland.

Samuel Oris, 70, and Udia Tomatuai, 89, both from Urakukur, said 10 years ago the beach was different from what it is now as the sea was moving in on them, forcing people to move back to land areas where they used to do gardening.

At Kabatirai, people have been relocated at the Milamila Catholic parish.

At Urkuk, people cannot move inland and are buying land elsewhere.

People at all these wards are now planting trees at the beachside but none has taken initiatives to build seawalls……..PNS (ENDS)



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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Posted 4:16 PM by Tevita People move inland to flee rising sea level From : PACNEWS PNG – GLOBAL WARMING : THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Wed 21 May 2008 People move inland to flee rising sea level 21 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Elders in the Duke of York Islands in East New Britain of Papua New Guinea (PNG) have expressed concern over global warming which is causing most of their islands to disappear slowly, reports The National. The islands have 21 wards and some, during the past five to 10 years, have been subjected to rise in sea level, forcing the people to be relocated inland. At the Nakukur ward, about 60 families that used to live near the beach, had packed up and moved inland 2 to 3 years ago. Nakukur elders Judas Kalasiel, 70, Topin Temeren, 62, and Malari Uding, 53, said it was a big worry for them as elders even though today’s young generation was not realising this. They said there had been no local authority or stakeholder who had come out to tell the islanders what they were planning to help them. “Now we can see the reef from the beach and our fishing grounds have since stretched far,” they said. At the Kumaina ward, village leader Samuel Tobainga said about 60 families had moved inland. Samuel Oris, 70, and Udia Tomatuai, 89, both from Urakukur, said 10 years ago the beach was different from what it is now as the sea was moving in on them, forcing people to move back to land areas where they used to do gardening. At Kabatirai, people have been relocated at the Milamila Catholic parish. At Urkuk, people cannot move inland and are buying land elsewhere. People at all these wards are now planting trees at the beachside but none has taken initiatives to build seawalls……..PNS (ENDS) * 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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