Land Shaping Methods for Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal and Island Region

Abstract

In the coastal and islands of the tropical region waterlogging and soil salinity are the major concerns to the sustainability of agriculture that is already under pressure from climate change events and natural hazards. Restoring the ecosystems and degraded soils of these regions is vital to provisioning of ecosystem services for the native people and ecological functions and services of these hotspots of biodiversity. Implementing innovative land management practices such as permanent raised bed and furrow, rice-cum-fish, three tier land management, ponds with broader dykes, deep furrow and high ridge, ridges and furrow systems and brackish water aquaculture will not only address the land degradation concerns but also enable to harvest rainwater and diversification of agriculture. These land shaping methods also help to cope with the weather variations and projected climate change and favour integration of fish and livestock component with crop cultivation providing greater stability to farm income.