Status and Threats of Wetland Change in Land Use Pattern and Planning

Wetland-related studies documented the loss of native species diversity and promotion of the biotic homogenization due to wetland loss. Excessive withdrawals of water from wetlands for residential, agricultural, or industrial use are responsible for wetland degradation. Constructions of dams impedes water flow and replenishment of wetlands, and it also creates a hazard to aquatic living organisms. Climate change causing some wetlands to disappear under rising sea levels, while others are severely impacted by changing climatic conditions, including drought. So necessary steps such as increase wetlands and prevention of the illegal swamping of wetlands, etc. should be taken for conserving the wetland biodiversity from the threatening of unplanned urbanization, purifying the environment and mainlining the sustainable development. Though the Ramsar Convention policy exists to persevere wetlands and achieve sustainable development throughout the world, mass consciousness, greater participation of local people, use of indigenous knowledge in the management strategies are needed to protect wetlands.

Establishment of a Flood Nomograph in Coastal Areas Considering Sea-Level Rise

Climate change caused by global warming is raising the average sea level. The rise in sea level leads to an increase in river water levels within the affected range, which increases the possibility of flooding in water due to erosion of outfall to the coast and rivers. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize in advance the risk of occurrence of domestic flooding, which is aggravated by the effect of rising sea levels, and to construct new boundary conditions for predicting urban flooding accordingly. In this study, Flood Nomograph for two research areas was selected in consideration of the regional characteristics of coastal areas and the scenario of sea level rise. As a result of the analysis, as the sea level rose, the amount of flood critical rainfall decreased numerically. It is believed that this study can be used as a necessary basis for improving flood forecast and warning data considering sea level rise in coastal cities in the future.

Evidence of Coastal Changes in the West Coast of Naxos Island, Cyclades, Greece

Coastal lagoons and dunes are of great ecological importance, not only for providing habitats for rare flora and fauna, but also for protecting coastal areas from rising sea levels and storms, etc. Even though these features are unique for sustainable development and are extremely important to the natural environment and economy, they are one of the most vulnerable and threatened ecosystems due to their small size. The western coasts of Naxos (central Aegean Sea) represent an example of such phenomena, with various wetlands bordered by low-lying sand dunes. The aim of our study is to assess the vulnerability and pressures of the western coasts of Naxos Isl. by taking into consideration both natural and anthropogenic factors. We used a variety of approaches for the environmental and geomorphological study of the coastal zone to achieve this goal, including: (a) study of aerial photography from 1960 until today, (b) systematic seasonal aerial monitoring by drone, since 2015, (c) use of DGPS for the mapping of the coastal zone and for obtaining detailed topographic sections, and (d) dune mapping. Our findings reveal the vulnerability of the western coasts of Naxos due to sea level rise, tectonic subsidence, and a variety of anthropogenic pressures, such as uncontrolled parking, vegetation uprooting, sand extractions, and heavy touristic traffic. Therefore, the protection of the sand dunes, their restoration where they have been eroded, the definition of a zone of control, and restriction of human activities must be a key priority.

Vulnerable Territories: The Perpetually Shifting Edge

<p>New Zealand’s coastline is rapidly receding. The increased threat of rising sea levels continues to erode the shore line causing extensive and irreparable damage to thousands of coastal properties, often dismantling communities and the kiwi dream of living near the ocean. With global temperatures continuing to rise, all of our coastal communities are at risk. The current measure of response to this issue is through managed retreat, the removal and relocation of all ‘at risk’ buildings in coastal hazard zones. While this approach is successful in preserving the physical structures, it remains an undesirable solution that forces homeowners to abandon their community and the coastline for the safety of higher ground. The retreat is hampered among debate within the effected regions as the forced detachment of long standing communities often results in the loss of ‘sense of place’ that living within a coastal community enables. This thesis proposes that Haumoana in Hawkes Bay offers the fitting location to introduce an alternative coastal community model that actively responds to the impending hazards whilst retaining the societal poetics. Situated just south of the nearby communities of Te Awanga and Haumoana, two of the most at-risk coastal regions in New Zealand that are currently facing the prospect of dismantlement. The site was specifically chosen due to the fact that erosion is predicted to diminish half its usable land over the next century, this thesis will investigate the potential risks to the respective coastline, the role that this would play in an adaptive community, and the possible design options that can respond and enhance a future sustainable landscape. This thesis argues that a coastal community can be designed to actively adapt and respond to the threat of erosion rather than being dismantled through retreat; that by adopting design principles that protect the land on which they are placed, the coastal hazards of the region can be lessened; and that an adaptive community model can be achieved whilst retaining the ‘sense of place’ that coastal community’s exhibit. The thesis proposes that this can be achieved by incorporating and reinforcing natural features of the coast into the architectural design at various scales; accommodating for, and adapting to the imminent threat of erosion; and by invoking principles of sustainable design in company with adaptive planning and resilient design, thereby pushing the standards of coastal planning beyond typical practice.</p>

Vulnerable Territories: The Perpetually Shifting Edge

<p>New Zealand’s coastline is rapidly receding. The increased threat of rising sea levels continues to erode the shore line causing extensive and irreparable damage to thousands of coastal properties, often dismantling communities and the kiwi dream of living near the ocean. With global temperatures continuing to rise, all of our coastal communities are at risk. The current measure of response to this issue is through managed retreat, the removal and relocation of all ‘at risk’ buildings in coastal hazard zones. While this approach is successful in preserving the physical structures, it remains an undesirable solution that forces homeowners to abandon their community and the coastline for the safety of higher ground. The retreat is hampered among debate within the effected regions as the forced detachment of long standing communities often results in the loss of ‘sense of place’ that living within a coastal community enables. This thesis proposes that Haumoana in Hawkes Bay offers the fitting location to introduce an alternative coastal community model that actively responds to the impending hazards whilst retaining the societal poetics. Situated just south of the nearby communities of Te Awanga and Haumoana, two of the most at-risk coastal regions in New Zealand that are currently facing the prospect of dismantlement. The site was specifically chosen due to the fact that erosion is predicted to diminish half its usable land over the next century, this thesis will investigate the potential risks to the respective coastline, the role that this would play in an adaptive community, and the possible design options that can respond and enhance a future sustainable landscape. This thesis argues that a coastal community can be designed to actively adapt and respond to the threat of erosion rather than being dismantled through retreat; that by adopting design principles that protect the land on which they are placed, the coastal hazards of the region can be lessened; and that an adaptive community model can be achieved whilst retaining the ‘sense of place’ that coastal community’s exhibit. The thesis proposes that this can be achieved by incorporating and reinforcing natural features of the coast into the architectural design at various scales; accommodating for, and adapting to the imminent threat of erosion; and by invoking principles of sustainable design in company with adaptive planning and resilient design, thereby pushing the standards of coastal planning beyond typical practice.</p>

A New Way. Niue

<p>With the increase in climate change, small Pacific nations such as Niue face significant risks from rising sea levels and the increased intensity of natural disasters such as tropical cyclones. These extreme weather events have caused severe devastation therefore threatening the fragile economy, and social and cultural fabric that make up the identity of Niue, a Pacific nation. This is evident in the decline of the island’s population. A current issue faced by Pacific nations such as Niue is the lack of contemporary vernacular, sustainable and resilient architectural solutions to the environmental and economic issues these nations face. Further compelling this situation is the lack of research and study of Niue’s traditions and cultural practices, vernacular architecture and natural environment. This issue has negatively affected urban renewal and developmental projects, most of which have been formulated based on individual’s experiences, outdated attitudes and approaches or the findings of research conducted through pan-Pasifika or western lenses. The devastating outcomes of Cyclone Heta in 2004, which struck most of the coastal edge of Niue, particularly the South side of the Capital Alofi, Aliluki and destroyed the national hospital, the national museum, the Niue Hotel and Amanau apartments brought to light the seriousness of this issue. From then until now, Aliluki which once was the centre of Niue has been stigmatised by cyclone destruction, and deteriorated into a barren ruin overgrown by nature. This thesis aims to document and preserve through this project, local knowledge associated with Niuean building traditions and cultural practices; develop a design method that leads to a contemporary architectural solution informed by the local culture, traditional practices and contextual situation; and develop a viable architectural solution that contributes to increasing the resilience and sustainability of Aliluki to future disasters and enhances the economic prosperity of the community through an increase in social, economic, and cultural opportunities. The design thesis argues that understanding Niue’s traditional values, practices, and contextual situation will help identify resilient and sustainable vernacular architectural solutions for Niue’s cyclone-prone environment. This is done through two stages of the research: Theoretical grounding and a one-month field research and site studies in Niue. All the key literature, case studies and key findings were then explored, tested and developed through the urban re-development of Aliluki and a design of a cultural centre that will be used as an evacuation shelter in the event of a devastating tropical cyclone. In search for a better and safer future, this research will hopefully contribute towards the survival of the people and traditions of Niue, who has for several decades, struggled with the forces of modernisation.</p>

A New Way. Niue

<p>With the increase in climate change, small Pacific nations such as Niue face significant risks from rising sea levels and the increased intensity of natural disasters such as tropical cyclones. These extreme weather events have caused severe devastation therefore threatening the fragile economy, and social and cultural fabric that make up the identity of Niue, a Pacific nation. This is evident in the decline of the island’s population. A current issue faced by Pacific nations such as Niue is the lack of contemporary vernacular, sustainable and resilient architectural solutions to the environmental and economic issues these nations face. Further compelling this situation is the lack of research and study of Niue’s traditions and cultural practices, vernacular architecture and natural environment. This issue has negatively affected urban renewal and developmental projects, most of which have been formulated based on individual’s experiences, outdated attitudes and approaches or the findings of research conducted through pan-Pasifika or western lenses. The devastating outcomes of Cyclone Heta in 2004, which struck most of the coastal edge of Niue, particularly the South side of the Capital Alofi, Aliluki and destroyed the national hospital, the national museum, the Niue Hotel and Amanau apartments brought to light the seriousness of this issue. From then until now, Aliluki which once was the centre of Niue has been stigmatised by cyclone destruction, and deteriorated into a barren ruin overgrown by nature. This thesis aims to document and preserve through this project, local knowledge associated with Niuean building traditions and cultural practices; develop a design method that leads to a contemporary architectural solution informed by the local culture, traditional practices and contextual situation; and develop a viable architectural solution that contributes to increasing the resilience and sustainability of Aliluki to future disasters and enhances the economic prosperity of the community through an increase in social, economic, and cultural opportunities. The design thesis argues that understanding Niue’s traditional values, practices, and contextual situation will help identify resilient and sustainable vernacular architectural solutions for Niue’s cyclone-prone environment. This is done through two stages of the research: Theoretical grounding and a one-month field research and site studies in Niue. All the key literature, case studies and key findings were then explored, tested and developed through the urban re-development of Aliluki and a design of a cultural centre that will be used as an evacuation shelter in the event of a devastating tropical cyclone. In search for a better and safer future, this research will hopefully contribute towards the survival of the people and traditions of Niue, who has for several decades, struggled with the forces of modernisation.</p>

Science in Service of our Communities

In the Golden Isles of Georgia, the Gullah art of braiding sweetgrass into baskets can be traced back over 400 years to its West African roots. This skill is passed on from generation to generation, preserving the oral history, sovereignty, and culture of the Gullah people. Local and indigenous coastal communities, like the Gullah-Geechee, have a deep connection with their natural environment as they depend on forests, fisheries, and wildlife resources for their livelihood and culture. These frontline communities are also facing a complex web of challenges that include rising sea levels, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, encroaching development and increasing property taxes, and loss of fisheries and other coastal livelihoods. As communities develop strategies to address these complex challenges, they need access to place-based research and education that is unique to their people, culture, and ecology.

Making new history: Contemporary art and the temporal orientations of climate change in Oceania

This article explores artistic production in the region of Oceania that resists the ahistorical and future-oriented temporality of climate change discourse, as it perpetuates colonial structures of power by denying Indigenous futures and ignoring the violent histories that have led to the current climate breakdown. In the video poem Anointed (2018), prominent climate justice activist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner strategically combines spoken word poetry with visual montage in order to situate Cold War nuclear tests by the US military within the same temporal plane as rising sea levels currently threatening the Marshall Islands. Katerina Teaiwa’s exhibition Project Banaba (2017) similarly mobilizes archival imagery in order to visualize the genealogical relationship between Banabans and the settler landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Sean Connelly’s architectural and design practice in Hawaiʻi Futures, an ongoing digital design project that engages with the threats of sea level rise and coastal erosion in Hawaiʻi, problematizes linear formations of time and favours a future structured around cyclical, ecological time instead. Interacting with vastly different sites, strategies and temporalities, these three multidisciplinary projects provide critical alternatives to the ahistorical framing of colonial climate change in Oceania and thus play a crucial role in constructing a more just future.

Estimation of Agricultural Dykelands Cultivated in Nova Scotia Using Land Property Boundaries and Crop Inventory

Dykelands are agricultural ground protected from coastal inundation by dyke infra-structure and constitute some of the most agriculturally productive lands in Nova Scotia. Between 2015 and 2019, Canada’s Annual Crop Inventory was used to characterize and estimate hectares of agricultural dykelands cultivated in Nova Scotia. The number of hectares of wheat, barley, corn, forages and soybeans were compiled for each year and compared to the previous year. This was accomplished using GIS software, satellite images, and geodata from the Nova Scotia’s Land Property Database. Results revealed that from 2015 to 2019, an average of 56% of the dykelands’ total surface was dedicated to the production of field crops (wheat, barley, corn, soybeans) and forage. Results also highlighted the importance of forage production on the dykelands. Forage was the largest commodity grown, representing around 80% of the total crop land area of the agricultural dykelands. Corn and soybeans were the second and third crops of abundance, constituting 12 and 4% of the total crop land area, respectively. This study represents the first attempt to document the number of hectares of the principal crops grown on Nova Scotia’s dykelands using crop inventory and property boundaries. Given the predictions of rising sea levels and the overtopping risks that the dykelands face, this study will facilitate more suitable land-use policies by providing stakeholders with an accurate quantitative assessment of the utilization of agricultural dykelands.