How is development affecting sustainable livelihoods and disaster risk: A case study of a coastal community in Fiji
(2019) VRSM01 20181Risk Management and Safety Engineering (M.Sc.Eng.)
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
- Abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate how development have affected access to sustainable livelihood capitals and how the perceived access to these capitals have changed in the past decades in Dravuwalu, a coastal society in Fiji.
A case-study was conducted in the village of Drawuvalu. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and observations. The composition of livelihoods at the time of research was compared with how people describe the perceived composition of livelihoods decades ago.
The result show that it is difficult to say with certainty whether Dravuwalu is more or less resilient towards natural hazards now compared to some decades ago. The increase in cash inflow to the village the past few years appears to have... (More) - The aim of this study was to investigate how development have affected access to sustainable livelihood capitals and how the perceived access to these capitals have changed in the past decades in Dravuwalu, a coastal society in Fiji.
A case-study was conducted in the village of Drawuvalu. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and observations. The composition of livelihoods at the time of research was compared with how people describe the perceived composition of livelihoods decades ago.
The result show that it is difficult to say with certainty whether Dravuwalu is more or less resilient towards natural hazards now compared to some decades ago. The increase in cash inflow to the village the past few years appears to have a role in the reduced social capital and in the decreased nutritional status. However, it has also made it possible for more villagers to rebuild theirs houses and install solar panels. Moreover, there is mainly one source of income, which is very vulnerable to natural hazards. There are some signs of the rapid development reducing the resilience in Dravuwalu, as the new lifestyles are more vulnerable than the traditional ones. On the other hand, more access to the outside world and consequently to modern technologies facilitates life in the village. The real challenge with sustainable development in Dravuwalu appears to be to increase one capital without decreasing another. Also, to make sure that all individuals have access to enough capitals to retain a sustainable livelihood, to prevent anyone from falling behind. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8972802
- author
- Gustavsson, Jennifer LU and Wiskman, Malin LU
- supervisor
-
- Per Becker LU
- organization
- course
- VRSM01 20181
- year
- 2019
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Sustainable livelihood, Disaster risk, Fiji, Risk management, Development
- language
- English
- id
- 8972802
- date added to LUP
- 2019-03-27 10:18:48
- date last changed
- 2020-12-03 14:26:13
@misc{8972802,
abstract = {{The aim of this study was to investigate how development have affected access to sustainable livelihood capitals and how the perceived access to these capitals have changed in the past decades in Dravuwalu, a coastal society in Fiji.
A case-study was conducted in the village of Drawuvalu. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and observations. The composition of livelihoods at the time of research was compared with how people describe the perceived composition of livelihoods decades ago.
The result show that it is difficult to say with certainty whether Dravuwalu is more or less resilient towards natural hazards now compared to some decades ago. The increase in cash inflow to the village the past few years appears to have a role in the reduced social capital and in the decreased nutritional status. However, it has also made it possible for more villagers to rebuild theirs houses and install solar panels. Moreover, there is mainly one source of income, which is very vulnerable to natural hazards. There are some signs of the rapid development reducing the resilience in Dravuwalu, as the new lifestyles are more vulnerable than the traditional ones. On the other hand, more access to the outside world and consequently to modern technologies facilitates life in the village. The real challenge with sustainable development in Dravuwalu appears to be to increase one capital without decreasing another. Also, to make sure that all individuals have access to enough capitals to retain a sustainable livelihood, to prevent anyone from falling behind.}},
author = {{Gustavsson, Jennifer and Wiskman, Malin}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{How is development affecting sustainable livelihoods and disaster risk: A case study of a coastal community in Fiji}},
year = {{2019}},
}