Islands and Climate Change

Some low-lying coral islands may be threatened by climate change. Global warming has led to rising sea levels, while rising sea temperatures have led to coral bleaching—the process of destroying the coral on which many new islands form. Some scientists believe rising sea levels put low-lying islands at greater risk for damage from tsunamis, floods, and tropical storms.

The island nation of Maldives is particularly threatened by sea level rise, for example. Maldives is a chain of 26 atolls in the tropical Indian Ocean. All the atolls of Maldives are low-lying, and some uninhabited areas are even covered by shallow water at high tide. Tsunamis and storms regularly erode at the fragile coral islands. Extreme weather, such as storms and cyclones, has become more frequent and is often associated with climate change. The delicate beaches of Maldives are eroding at a fast pace.

Maldivians are protecting their islands. They are addressing current threats by dredging sand from the ocean floor. This sand has fortified the coastline and elevated some structures to several meters above sea level. However, Maldivians are also preparing for the worst. Leaders have considered migrating the entire Maldivian population to Australia, Sri Lanka, or India if sea levels continue to rise.

Climate change can also threaten island economies. Tourism is an important industry for many island nations. Bleached and dying coral, invasive algae and jellies, and beach pollution reduce the number of tourists who want to dive or snorkel among the coral reefs. More than 80% of the economy of the Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean Sea, relies on tourism, for example. A change in the water quality, coral reef ecosystems, or pristine beaches would devastate the livelihood of islanders. This would impact not only residents of the Virgin Islands, but other nations, as economic refugees migrated to countries with more stable economies.

Islands are now valued by people as homes for rare and endangered wildlife. Many islands where people once destroyed native species by hunting them or destroying their habitats are now maintained as national parks and wildlife refuges. On some of these island preserves, such as the Galapagos Islands, scientists conduct research to learn more about wildlife and how to protect the animals from further harm.

The Galapagos ecosystems, both terrestrial and marine, are a example of human impact on islands. More than 100,000 people visit the protected islands of the Galapagos every year. Tourists flock to see the indigenous wildlife, such as marine iguanas, giant tortoises, and blue-footed boobies. Scientists come to study the unusual wildlife and the way it evolved.

The population of the Galapagos has grown to accommodate tourists and scientists. Thousands of people have migrated to the islands illegally in search of a more stable economic livelihood. Tourists and Galapagueños (most in the service industry) have stressed the environment with development such as clearing land for housing, industry, and agriculture; the need for sophisticated energy and sewage systems; and increased demand for freshwater.

The marine ecosystem of the Galapagos is also threatened by human activity. Although the islands prohibit some forms of fishing, fisheries such as marlin and tuna thrive in the area. Overfishing, however, threatens the population of these large, predatory fish and the livelihood of the people who depend on them for food and trade.

The international community, through the United Nations and many non-governmental agencies, work with Galapagueños and the government of Ecuador to successfully manage the ecosystems of the Galapagos and develop their economy.

* Here are some basic ways to save island angainst climate change:

* Create a Nature Reserve.

* Conservation Covenants. Applying for a Conservation Covenant.

* Protect Land During Development.

Care for Your Land. Citizen Science. Care for Sensitive Ecosystems. Care for Habitat. Protect Against Invasives. Garden with Native Species.