The Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP) is seeking to build resilience by characterising vulnerability of key coastal infrastructure including homes, schools, hospitals and other assets to wave-induced damage, focusing on three islands of Tuvalu’s nine atolls: Funafuti (the capital) and Nanumea and Nanumaga which are rural outer islands. As such, comprehensive and participatory baseline assessments to support national coastal monitoring and wave hazard modelling as well as sea level rise impacts will be undertaken for all 9 atolls and used to inform adaptation planning and coastal designs. 

So far, one of the key results of the project has been the completion of a nation-wide topographic/bathymetric survey using state-of-the-art LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology.  Until now, detailed and accurate measurement of land height and its relationship to sea level has not existed for the majority of atoll islands in the Pacific region, including Tuvalu. This has been a crucial missing baseline to support detailed understanding and responding to wave and sea level rise impacts. Subsequently, the project is using the data to model sea level rise and future impacts including its use as a baseline for the dynamic modelling of storm wave overtopping hazards. In addition, the Lidar data is also the baseline from which shoreline monitoring will be implemented over all 9 atolls.

These assessments were crucial for the elaboration of planning documents. The data is already being put to numerous uses. This includes the briefing of outer island Kaupule (councils) about safer flood-free zones for building. Meanwhile, the Government of Tuvalu has integrated the data into its national recovery and vulnerability reduction plan for Tropical Cyclone Tino, which by official estimates severely affected more than half the population last January and led to a State of Emergency. The data will also be incorporated into navigation charts, crucial for safe ship operations and trade (presently there are no updated charts for Tuvalu since the mid 1980s). Most importantly, the Government is now basing their long-term adaptation strategy, including bold land reclamation plans, on the data collected. In parallel, it has been shared with the World Bank boat harbour improvement Project to support their modelling and design work for outer island boat harbours. Moreover, the UNDP-supported Ridge2Reef project is drawing on the data to support reef conservation work.

The project endeavours vulnerability reduction of key coastal infrastructure including homes, schools, hospitals and other assets to wave-induced damage, focusing on three islands of Tuvalu’s nine atolls: Funafuti (the capital) and Nanumea and Nanumaga which are rural outer islands. 

TCAP is implementing hard protection, soft protection and advanced solutions. Coastal protection designs have been completed following extensive data collection and assessment and intensive consultation with the government and island communities. Decision was made to build  coastal protection infrastructures on approximately 2,210m of vulnerable coastlines on Funafuti, Nanumea and Nanumaga. Final approvals are expected soon and construction to commence by the end of 2021. 

On  Funafuti,  land  reclamation  on  the  lagoon  shore  of Fogafale Island is  proposed  as  the  most appropriate  adaptation/protection  solution.  The  reclamation  will  start  from  the northern boundary of the Queen Elizabeth Park reclamation area and extend to the northern Tausoa Beach groin.  The  lagoon  foreshore  of  the  reclaimed  land  will  be  hardened  with  a  retaining wall (bunding). The surface of the reclaimed area will be graded to drain into stormwater channels on the landward side of the new area. 

On Nanumaga, berm top barriers (BTB) will be built on the crest of the main natural storm berm that runs parallel to the foreshore of the island. It will protect the main village settlement from wave overtopping risk, without interfering with day to day shoreline sediment transport processes (soft option). On Nanumea, it is proposed that approximately 1,500m of high value shoreline will be protected under the TCAP  design. BTBs are also proposed  for  use on Nanumea along the crest of the main natural storm berm to prevent wave overtopping. BTBs have been selected as the design solution for the outer islands as they will not interfere with the active shoreline processes which continue to function well on both islands. 

One of TCAP’s objectives defines the strengthening of institutions, human resources, awareness and knowledge for resilient coastal management as pivotal in achieving coastal adaptation. The project specifically aims to increase government and community technical capacity, knowledge and awareness for coastal monitoring, protection, and maintenance of coastal protection infrastructure, with a special focus on the participation of women, through inclusive training. In addition, TCAP is seeking to establish a sustainable financing mechanism for long-term adaptation efforts. The project aims to support island councils to develop gender responsive and participatory Island Strategic Plans and annual budgets that integrate island-specific climate risks. 

The project is delivering a tertiary scholarships programme, designed with the Tuvalu Ministry of Youth, Education and Sports to enhance long-term national human resource capacity and awareness for sustainable coastal protection. While international travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19 have delayed the training, the project has been working with island councils to develop budgeted, more climate-smart, inclusive Island Strategic Plans. 

The project has also shared its insights at various fora including a regional GIS Conference hosted by the Pacific Community in Fiji (November 2019); it contributed to the Atoll Futures Group organized by the University of La Rochelle in  France (2019/2020); provided presentations for ADB’s strategic interest in Lidar application in atolls (Nov 2020); collaborated with the University of Sydney, the University of NSW and the University of Wollongong on coastal protection infrastructure and coastal processes.