Think Green Live Clean

Wolfgang Staudt

Inhabitants of paradise are the first to feel the real impact of global warming. Villagers that live on the Atoll islands are forced to pack up and leave their homes for good due to rising sea levels. Islands are likely to be the areas that are hit hardest by global warming and entire island chains may disappear within the next century.

The village of Leteu on Tegua island used to be a popular vacation spot. However, it has endured the consequences of global warming resulting in the loss of habitat, wildlife, and vacationers. A typhoon destroyed its only beach, the rising sea levels have washed away the roots of vegetation, and homes have been completely wiped out. People are forced to move inland as the edges of their island disappear.

The situation is dire, however not everything is going bad on these islands. Marine and coastal reserves have been established. Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society are working to create more reserves on the islands being affected as well as islands that may not be threatened yet in order to preserve them. Donations have been given to small islands that have already been affected badly by global warming in order to build sound structures on higher elevation areas.

Although these efforts may be helpful in the prevention and restoration of island destruction, elimination of the problem would be the only way to completely stop these islands from disappearing. Curbing the emission of greenhouse gases is the first step to saving these islands.

Check out the full article at commondreams.org