Amid changing climate, strategies needed to protect Indonesian islands from sea level rise

The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, supported by USAID, have launched 226,280-hectare conservation areas to protect small islands in North Maluku.

The cooperation aims to secure marine productivity that benefits the locals.

Indonesia possesses more than 10,000 small islands. In spite of minor inhabitants, these islets are important for their natural resources, leisure activities, even our national defense. However, these small islands are currently under threat.

NASA’s long-term satellite observations from 1993 to 2018 showed an increase in global sea level of about 90 milimeters, with 3.3 mm on average per year. Following significant change to the world’s climate, the increasing ocean height would submerge small islands, particularly the coral, atoll and alluvium islands.