NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: physical sciences, social sciences, climate change, adaptation planning, policy

Objective(s): To work in collaboration with community members, local stakeholders, scientists and policy makers to complete the development of climate change adaptation plans.

Project Description: The work is in collaboration with community members, local stakeholders, scientists and policy makers to complete the development of climate change adaptation plans in Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok (drafted in winter 2010; ARI research license #1213). The project process includes review of adaptation options with stakeholders to develop additional detail if and where needed. As well as to develop additional technical information on adaptation plans for infrastructure (hazard mapping, structural adaptation adjustments) and subsistence hunting (e.g. food security action planning). The following methods will be employed to meet the research objectives: Objective 1: In Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok, ArcticNorth researchers working with local research assistants and coordinators, will reconvene the working groups from winter 2010 to review the preliminary adaptation plan and develop prioritization criteria. Technical information to support the adaption plan will be derived from hazard mapping of pertinent risks including sea level rise and permafrost thaw. This will involve geomorpholgical surveying, landscape hazard characterization, trend analysis of risks, and mapping exercises with community members and will be linked to GIS to develop maps of specific hazard exposures today and projected in the future. Additional engineering characteristics of infrastructural adaptations, including gravel pads and foundation strengthening will be obtained and detailed in the final report. This work will be conducted in communication and collaboration with engineers and decision makers in the communities and Territory. For actions related to subsistence hunting, project researchers will work together with Hunters and Trappers Committees in each community, active harvesters, harvester assistance program coordinators, and health care professionals to detail pathways to addressing concerns related to food security and harvester support programs. Objective 2: Research methods employed in Aklavik will be consistent with the methods used in Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok. Specifics of the methodology and research plan are subject to change based on feedback obtained from a consultation visit to the community. Working group members will be recruited based on their strong interest and/or knowledge on a particular theme. We aim to have 5-10 people per working group and working group meetings (one per group) will be 2-3 hours long. The starting point for discussion in working group meetings will be a list of local climate change concerns documented in previous research. These concerns will be reviewed for accuracy and comprehensiveness by the working groups, and then the bulk of the discussion will focus on documenting and brainstorming adaptation actions to address climate change concerns. The research team (comprised of local assistants/coordinators and an ArcticNorth researcher) will follow-up with key informants as necessary to ensure the proposed adaptation actions are feasible and appropriate for addressing the targeted concern. Wider community input and feedback will be encouraged throughout the adaptation planning process. Research updates and final results will be communicated back to individuals and communities through a variety of formats and channels including: local radio, posters, community research reports translated into the local language, public presentations, school presentations, personal phone calls and visits. Routine updates and communication are already well-established between ArcticNorth researchers and the communities of Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 31, 2010 to December 31, 2010.