The importance of land use control and documenting property rights in Disaster Risk Reduction in Pacific Island countries

Abstract

There is evidence linking climate change with an increase in natural disasters. The Pacific Islands have limited resources and experienced staff to implement Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes. Land tenure in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is also unique with many countries having more than 80 percent as customary lands. This paper draws on lessons from two recent disasters and the existing literature on lessons from international disasters. Land issues to be addressed in DRR include people not being able to return to their land, and the complexity of resettlement of villages away from hazard-prone areas. The paper concludes that enforcing land use controls in hazard-prone areas can reduce the likelihood that people will settle in areas with high hazard risk. Also documenting property rights is one of the approaches that can increase tenure security and protect displaced people from eviction or land grabbing.

Keywords::

• tenure security
• land use planning
• Disaster Risk Reduction

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Helene Jacot des Combes, Dr Toni Fisher, and Mr Viliamu Iese from the University of the South Pacific in the preparation of case study material and for their contribution to the training at the USP from 9 to 13 July 2012. In addition the author would like to acknowledge the comments received from the training participants on the draft case studies.