http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=183423

REDUCING the risks of climate change and increasing the resilience of agriculture and forestry ecosystems are vital to Pacific Islanders, says Land Resources Division acting director Inoke Ratukalou.

He told the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change conference in Auckland, New Zealand last week that disaster risk reduction addressed risks related to all categories of hazard, while climate change adaptation focused only on climate risks.

"Both DRR and CCA policies and strategies recognise the vulnerability of the agriculture and forestry sectors in the Pacific," said Mr Ratukalou.

He said scientists had shown that climate change impacts would exacerbate disaster risks, hence the two areas were being dealt with in parallel.

"There is increasing recognition that these two areas share common ground as both are concerned with reducing vulnerability of communities and contributing to sustainable development.

"Therefore, the need to integrate the two concepts and to work out concrete action to reduce risks and vulnerability and to increase the resilience of agriculture and forestry ecosystems is vital."

"Agriculture and forestry development underpin economic growth in the Pacific region, as well as the livelihoods and cultural identity of its people."