Aftermath of cyclone Fantala |18 May 2016
World Bank releases findings of impact assessment on Farquhar
The World Bank and the Division of Risks and Disaster Management (DRDM) have released preliminary findings of the damage, loss and needs assessment after tropical cyclone Fantala wreaked havoc on Farquhar recently.
Blown off roofs from houses that were damaged by flying debris, damage to equipment not cyclone proof, as well as to the coast guard compound and communications tower, the guest house and 93% of the coconut plantations were among some of the findings revealed.
This was during a meeting with the press at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS) yesterday morning in the presence of DRDM officials and Glenny Savy, chief executive of the Islands Development Company (IDC) under which Farquhar island falls.
In his findings, Doekle Wielinga of the World Bank said various sectors have been affected like housing, agriculture and fisheries, commerce, tourism, electricity, transport, telecommunication, water and sanitation.
He proposed a resilient recovery strategy for the islands based on three pillars: biodiversity and environmental protection, blue and eco-sensitive economic development and security and disaster risk management.
Regarding the environment impact assessment, Mr Wielinga discovered that the natural ecosystems have been less damaged than coconut and mixed forests due to their high resistance to cyclonic wind and waves; seabirds, especially Sooty Terns and Red Footed Boobies on South Island, were found on breeding sites, indicating that important bird areas have survived Fantala; the rather limited impacts of cyclone Fantala on natural environments indicate a high potential for short to medium-term natural recovery and prove that Farquhar’s ecosystems are well-adapted to cyclonic events, the intensity of which is likely to increase under climate change.
The report also had specific recommendations on environment. It suggests that South Island of Farquhar is declared protected area; clear South Island and the Manahas Islands from introduced species, and use the southern part of North Island as a natural buffer zone to avoid re-establishment of introduced species on those islands. And on North Island, create a natural buffer zone of native vegetation from the shoreline inward and restore damaged vegetation.
It believes this coastal buffer zone will strengthen natural protection against cyclonic waves and distant swells, reduce the risks of marine inundation and sand transfer to inland areas, and allow island upwards growth (through sand trapping and vertical accretion), making the island keep pace with sea level rise in the climate change context.
Mr Wielinga also had specific recommendations on recovery and reconstruction strategy which in short consist of promoting environmental protection and monitoring to create an opportunity for an eco-tourism niche built on terrestrial ecosystems; reconstructing infrastructure to improve cyclone-resistant standards; recovering productive activities, mainly eco-tourism and controlled exploitation of coconut plantation and fish; restoring and strengthening the coast guards’ capabilities for territorial protection and emergency response; strengthening weather monitoring, forecasting and early warning capabilities, and coordination among key agencies (meteo, IDC/SIF, and SCG and DRDM); systematically conduct post-event assessments to build a resilience experience; strengthen local capacities on terrestrial environment monitoring; conduct multi-disciplinary and prospective studies to be able to help promote nature-based strategies aimed at reducing risks and support adaptation to climate change and based on Farquhar experience, build a model of DRR and climate change adaptation for outer islands.
A summary of the disaster effects in monetary terms