LOCAL Community Resilience in the Context of Global Climate Change: A Case from Maluku Indonesia

This study driven by two research objectives: to observe the risk and vulnerability of the northern coastal region of Ambon Island due to climate change from the subjective point of view of the Asilulu’s fishermen community in particular; to analyze the adaptation strategy and resilience of the Asilulu’s fishermen and the northern coastal region of Ambon Island. The research was carried out through qualitative approach with specific observation on fishermen community of Asilulu Village of the Leihitu sub-District, Central Molucca District of Molucca Province, as case study. Two important results arise from the research. First, over the years local fishermen have developed adaptation strategy to cope with the risk related to climate changes such as adapting the fishing period to changing season, temporary seeking demersal fish, reduce sailing risk by fishing together in groups, use of new type fishing boat, develop new fishing gears, revitalize local institution, develop livelihood strategy and social security networks, as well as strengthen the relations and revelations to the God the Almighty. This adaptation strategy could potentially reduce the vulnerability of the Asilulu’s fishermen and their surrounding environment. Second, although the Asilulu’s fishermen have develop adaptive strategy to reduce the vulnerability related to global climate change, however, based on the eight elements for coastal community resilience (US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System Program 2007), the socio-ecological resilience of Asilulu’s fishermen and its north coast region of Ambon Island can be categorized as low. The governance, society and economic, coastal resource management, land use and structural design, risk knowledge, warning and evacuation, emergency response, and disaster recovery; are resilience elements that are not fully taking place or exist at Asilulu’s village and north coast region of Ambon Island.