Panama's Gardi Sugdub community to be relocated due to rising sea levels
- The Gunas of Gardi Sugdub is the first of 63 communities in Panama expected to be relocated due to rising sea levels.
- Government officials and scientists foresee forced relocations along Panama’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts in the coming decades.
- The impact of climate change is prompting Panama to prepare for the evacuation of its vulnerable island communities.
On a small island near Panama's Caribbean coast, around 300 families are getting ready to move because of rising sea levels. The Gunas of Gardi Sugdub are the first of 63 communities that will likely have to relocate in the future. They are not being forced to leave, but the situation is becoming difficult due to the sea levels rising. The island is low and gets flooded during strong winds, making it hard to live there comfortably. Leaving the island is a big challenge because their culture and economic activities are tied to the sea. They will move to the forest on the mainland and see how it goes in the long term. Many governments worldwide are dealing with rising sea levels, and Panama is estimating losing some coastal areas by 2050. It will cost a lot of money to relocate the people affected by this issue. The Gunas are preparing to leave their island and start a new life on solid ground. Some of them will stay on the island, but their way of living will change significantly.