As the chairman of Batasan Island’s Marine Protected Area Management Council, Eduard is concerned about the health of the marine environment. Eduard appeals to the more fortunate members of his community to refrain from mining corals in fishing grounds, which has become rampant in response to tidal flooding. He encourages the community to build more stilted houses instead, as these are more environmentally sensitive, effective and economical.
Historically, as the community gradually grew, people have mined coral stones in order to reclaim land. After the earthquake, however, many households simultaneously resorted to coral mining to elevate their floors. Coral mining is actually expensive, although alternative materials for building stilted houses are also scarce on the island. Excessive coral mining does not only negatively impact fish population, but also endangers people’s lives. Corals serve as natural barriers against waves, protecting the island from typhoons and storm surges.
While NGOs have donated stilted houses to a good number of residents in response to damages caused by the earthquake, the rest of the communities are still exploring how to elevate their floors responsibly, using limited financial and natural resources.
Akiwa mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Usimamizi la Eneo la Hifadhi ya Bahari ya Kisiwa cha Batasan, Eduard ana wasiwasi kuhusu afya ya mazingira ya baharini. Edward anaomba watu wenye bahati zaidi katika jamii yake wasichukue samaki wa korali katika maeneo ya uvuvi, ambayo yamekuwa mengi kwa sababu ya mafuriko ya maji. Anawatia moyo watu wa eneo hilo kujenga nyumba zaidi zenye nguzo, kwa kuwa hizo ni zenye kuhifadhi mazingira, zina matokeo na hazina gharama. Kihistoria, kadiri jamii ilivyokua hatua kwa hatua, watu wamechimba mawe ya matumbawe ili kurudisha ardhi. Hata hivyo, baada ya tetemeko hilo la ardhi, nyumba nyingi zilitumia madini ya matumbawe ili kuinua sakafu zao. Kwa kweli, uchimbaji wa matumbawe ni wa gharama kubwa, ingawa vifaa vingine vya kujenga nyumba zenye nguzo pia ni vichache katika kisiwa hicho. Uchimbaji wa matumbawe kupita kiasi hauathiri tu idadi ya samaki, lakini pia huweka hatarini maisha ya watu. Matumbawe hutumika kama vizuizi vya asili dhidi ya mawimbi, yakilinda kisiwa hicho kutokana na vimbunga na dhoruba. Ingawa mashirika ya kiserikali yametoa nyumba za juu kwa idadi kubwa ya wakazi wakijibu uharibifu uliosababishwa na tetemeko la ardhi, jamii zingine bado zinachunguza jinsi ya kuinua sakafu zao kwa uwajibikaji, kwa kutumia rasilimali ndogo za kifedha na asili.