Vulnerable coastal communities and participatory climate adaptation strategies : a case study of the artesanal fisheries and tourism sectors, Scott's Head/Soufriere, Commonwealth of Dominica

Abstract

This research draws on the rich traditional adaptive knowledge of Dominica's artesanal fisher folk to engender greater understanding of participatory approaches to climate adaptation. Like the Andean stargazers who predict El Niño weather for tuber planting, and the Honduran Quezungal farmers whose terraced farming practices protect crops from flash floods, these coastal villagers continue to collaboratively practice their unique forms of collective adaptation to climate variability.

We must rekindle the notion of genuine community development through grassroots social agency. Self-determined social agency, with its endogenous decision-making and local resource management, is arguably much better able than externally designed projects to engage and sustain community resources over time, and obtain the desired adaptation goals. This is especially so where there are opportunities for synergies between social concerns.

The pioneering of micro-adaptation risk-consciousness raising (ARC) and grassroots adaptation in development (GrAD) practices by and for marginalized coastal communities, and the blending of traditional adaptive knowledge and contemporary expertise and requisite resources within broader adaptation and development strategies will support sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity more effectively. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)