ABSTRACT
Based on the scale of cultivation and the geographical reach of the coconut, it is evident that this palm will have an enormous impact on resilient development in the tropics. This chapter estimates global standing stock and carbon sequestration potential and examines the cultivation of coconut palms for climate change resilience, focussing on examples from the Pacific Islands Region (Fiji and Tuvalu). Additionally, the main impacts of climate change on coconut cultivation are also considered. The Fiji case study investigates the toddy (sap) production potential of coconut palms and its potential conversion into ethanol and further compares the ethanol production potential of coconut with that of sugarcane and cassava. Results show that it is theoretically possible to obtain around 456 million liters of ethanol if toddy were to be collected from existing coconut palms. Fiji’s national demand for gasoline is only 115 million liters annually, which represents just 25% of coconuts’ bioethanol production potential. This would mean that, theoretically, Fiji could be an exporter of bioethanol.
