Solutions to Combat Effects of Climate Change and Sea rising seen In Tonga

The sea has invaded what was once low lying land where pigs fed in Tonga 

 Some Solutions to Combat Effects of climate change & sea rising  seen In Tonga 

Tonga is a group of islands ( an archipelago) spread out in the South Pacific Ocean. As we are in New Zealand, Tonga who could be said to be a neighbour of ours in the great Te Moana nui a Kiwa ( Pacific Ocean) Tonga lies directly South of Samoa and two thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

iN 2015 we visited Tonga firstly ,to see the place where the humpback whales who had migrated up our New Zealand coastline, from Antarctic waters to have their calves in Tongan waters. A fantastic experience to see these gentle giants of Te Moana nui a kiwa who are said to travel a distance of more than 2,000 km to the Tongan trench. However these humpback whale migrations are being impacted on by climate change.

Humpback Whales Tonga August 2015 Photo Chris Ball

The year we visited, a new volcano and island had just been formed -Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai- after the eruption of an under water volcano. This was the topic of conversation amongst many of " the locals" for part of what is known as the Tonga- Kermadec volcanic arc and and the Pacific " ring of fire " - close to the main island of Tongatapu.

Pigs still feeding even though sea rise and sea invasion Tonga 2015 Photo Chris Ball

Back in 2015  We visited a coastal area on Tongatapu Island, Tonga where effects of climate change and sea rise  had  impacted on this low lying area. We were fortunate to be shown this by Paul - the impacts which were affecting the economy of this area.

Photo 1 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the banks out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

Unlike the sand trap fences , rock walls, wooden groynes, sand push up work and the natural measures of dune planting seen over the last 45 years on  Coromandel’s Eastern Seaboard, we were introduced to a new thinking and possible solutions  which appear to be having success - the pushing away of the sea  gently from the shore.

Photo 2 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the holes in the concrete groynes into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

My great grandfather James Stewart, a civil engineer,  used to say “ Work with Nature and it will work with you. Work against nature and it will work against you. “Back in 1873 the effects of sand erosion and the sea caused Civil Engineers such as my Great Grandfather, Scientists and others, even  then to write about their concerns and present these to the NZ Institute. Seems the problems are still with us today. More so with land development, nutrient run off and plastics in our rivers and oceans.

Photo 3 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the banks out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

The following photos show some alternatives seen on Tongatapu, to the solid rock walls that we have seen at Auckland, Whitianga and Waihi Beach. Here on the Eastern Seaboard of  Te Tara-o-te-Ika a Māui ( Coromandel Peninsula ) Different directions into the sea. The use of gaps in groins to help push sea away from the shoreline. Tonga too has push ups and shoreline planting to help retain the shoreline. 

Photo 4 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the banks out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

Photo 5 Tongatapu, Tonga Measures to combat Sea Level Rising and Erosion – note the gaps in the groins  out into the sea – Photo Chris Ball Aug 2015

We are not engineers. Chris over the years has taken many photos on the Eastern Seaboard of beach erosion, shoreline planting, impacts of solid rock walls. We have had long experience of living on the coast and have been  involved in dune planting projects and beachcare.

To us and the people who took us around the areas,  it seemed as though the above solutions were  working. The community were also involved in the solutions with advice from coastal scientists and the public sector of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Climate change and sea rising  is an issue for Tonga which is largely flat.
It is also up to all of us to practice other measures for reducing greenhouse effects and thereby reducing risks of Global Warming to coastal communities, including those also in New Zealand and our Paciic Island neighbours. 

 Coastal erosion has been and is a problem on Coromandel Coasts and dune planting  is another method that has helped reduce the impact of wind and water and helped with  dune restoration.

Last week (beginning 07th September 2015) saw a Pacific Global Warming Conference which was attended by our then  Prime Minister Mr. John Keys. Other answers may have come from that conerence back then for New Zealand coasts also. 

Do that now in 2021 we are still talking - action is needed and the need for us to work together before the climate change clock runs out 

article by ASB September 2015 updated December 2021

Tongatapu on the other side of the islands - the action of the relentless sea - photo 2015 Chris Ball 

Reference:

• In Transactions and Proceedings NZ Institute Art. VIII.—On the Reclamation of Sand Wastes on the Coast, and the Prevention of their Inland Advance By James Stewart, C.E. [Read before the Auckland Institute, 4th September, 1873.]
• Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga accessed 01/12/2021
• Ecowatch https://www.ecowatch.com/humpback-whale-migration-  accessed 01/12/2021
• PACIFIC ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE  KINGDOM OF TONGA https://www.sprep.org/attachments/Climate_Change/PACC_Report_of_icountry_consultations_Tonga.pdf accessed 01/12/2021