Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines

Abstract There is an immediate lack of people-centred empirical evidence investigating how slow onset events influence human (im)mobility across the globe. This represents an important knowledge gap that makes it difficult for climate policy to safeguard vulnerable populations (whether on the move o...

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Main Authors: Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson, Noralene Uy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2022-02-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01068-w
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author Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
Noralene Uy
author_facet Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
Noralene Uy
author_sort Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract There is an immediate lack of people-centred empirical evidence investigating how slow onset events influence human (im)mobility across the globe. This represents an important knowledge gap that makes it difficult for climate policy to safeguard vulnerable populations (whether on the move or left behind). In this study, 48 qualitative focus group discussions in the Philippines elaborated around people’s (im)mobility pathways in the context of slow onset events. The selected collective storytelling approach effectively mapped out the (im)mobility trends of 12 different origin- and destination locations involving the perceptions of 414 women and men across six provinces on Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao islands. The research findings delicately outlined people’s translocality and its interlinkage with their personal (im)mobility experiences. People described how slow onset events such as longer-term soil and water degradation often contributed to reduced livelihood sustainability that influenced their decisions to move or stay. At the very core of people’s narratives were the ways that the environmental changes and (im)mobility experiences influenced people’s wellbeing. Some people described how temporary migration could increase their social status and boost wellbeing after returning home. Others described adverse impacts on their mental health during their migration experiences due to loss of place, identity, food, and social networks. The research findings show how policy can better support those moving, hosting, or identifying as immobile, as well as where (geographically and socially) more assistance is needed.
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spelling doaj.art-9b3556761a7746ceaae5df16d8ba66c32022-12-21T17:23:38ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922022-02-019111810.1057/s41599-022-01068-wIsland Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the PhilippinesSonja Ayeb-Karlsson0Noralene Uy1Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College LondonAteneo de Manila UniversityAbstract There is an immediate lack of people-centred empirical evidence investigating how slow onset events influence human (im)mobility across the globe. This represents an important knowledge gap that makes it difficult for climate policy to safeguard vulnerable populations (whether on the move or left behind). In this study, 48 qualitative focus group discussions in the Philippines elaborated around people’s (im)mobility pathways in the context of slow onset events. The selected collective storytelling approach effectively mapped out the (im)mobility trends of 12 different origin- and destination locations involving the perceptions of 414 women and men across six provinces on Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao islands. The research findings delicately outlined people’s translocality and its interlinkage with their personal (im)mobility experiences. People described how slow onset events such as longer-term soil and water degradation often contributed to reduced livelihood sustainability that influenced their decisions to move or stay. At the very core of people’s narratives were the ways that the environmental changes and (im)mobility experiences influenced people’s wellbeing. Some people described how temporary migration could increase their social status and boost wellbeing after returning home. Others described adverse impacts on their mental health during their migration experiences due to loss of place, identity, food, and social networks. The research findings show how policy can better support those moving, hosting, or identifying as immobile, as well as where (geographically and socially) more assistance is needed.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01068-w
spellingShingle Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson
Noralene Uy
Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines
title_full Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines
title_fullStr Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines
title_full_unstemmed Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines
title_short Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines
title_sort island stories mapping the im mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the philippines
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01068-w
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