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Climate change and associated extreme events will increase the inequities in the town of Duck Hill, Mississippi unless planning efforts are made to increase its climate preparedness. By engaging community members in a vulnerability assessment and climate adaptation strategy planning process, residents become empowered to demand the protection and services to thrive as a community. The Achieving Sustainability through Education and Economic Development Solutions (ASEEDS) project engaged with Duck Hill residents and surrounding areas for 2 years to develop a Climate Action Plan for Duck Hill, MS. The results of this report were derived through a series of workshops, individual conversations, and surveys.
The Climate Action Plan was developed through a community participatory process, community visioning, and listening sessions to address the changes in climate and develop resilience-based solutions. Participants conducted a climate vulnerability assessment of Duck Hills’ key assets and resources and developed solutions and adaptation strategies to those vulnerabilities. This systematic process was completed between 2018-2020. See the full report HERE.
27 Priority Solutions and Strategies were identified by community members to promote sustainable Duck Hill and reduce its vulnerability to climate impacts.
Energy Efficiency
1. Educate residents on available energy efficiency programs and retrofitting homes
2. Use existing program and resources such as “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program” (LIHEAP) for weatherization for seniors and veterans
Open Space and Parks
3. Encourage less manicured grass and more natural yards
4. Set up a community land trust and invest in the conservation of land and parks
5. Plan community gardens, encourage natural yards and build hoop house for winter growing
6. Build public parks for youth and drive sustainability and economy
Agriculture
7. Train farmers on sustainable and climate-resilient farming, crop rotation, and other methods to prevent soil erosion
8. Farm locally for food access and healthy options
Education
9. Teach climate change solutions in schools, libraries, and/or churches to promote local action
10. Work with the community to implement community outreach- “each one reach one” to pass on knowledge of sustainability and climate solutions
11. Implement “Farm to School” programs
12. Start recycling and composting education programs
Voting Rights and Census
13. Ensure you are counted in the census
14. Vote on all elections and get an identification card and/or driver’s license
Bogue Creek
15. Clean up and restore for erosion protection
16. Conservation of lands around creeks to prevent sedimentation
17. Dredge creek tributaries and make water reservoirs to prevent flooding during extreme events
18. Map tributaries for public awareness
Churches
19. Use churches as short-term cooling centers
20. Connect churches to lead community resilience and connect to the scripture “Green Bible”
21. Develop an emergency plan with churches to help and check on community members after a disaster
Cultural Heritage
22. Preserve Duck Hill’s cultural heritage by “Sharing Stories” on farming, food preservation, midwifery, and other traditional cultures.
23. Share through technology and youth
24. Promote Duck Hill’s history to preserve landmarks and encourage tourism
25. Promote preservation through rural churches
Emergency Services (Not voted on but identified as a priority during workshops)
26. Need for a mobile 911 system
27. Developing a county emergency management plan