It is Expected that Islands near Panama will Be Covered by the Sea: Panama Anticipates a ‘Difficult’ Relocation of Indigenous People
The Panamanian government admitted that it will be “difficult” to organize the relocation to the mainland of indigenous families living on islands in the Panamanian Caribbean that will be covered by rising sea levels. Rising ocean levels due to global warming threaten several islands populated by indigenous people in the paradisiacal Caribbean archipelago of Guna Yala, whose flooding will occur before the end of the century, according to scientific studies. The situation already forced the relocation in 2024 of some 1,200 indigenous people from Gardí Sugdub Island, in one of the first planned migrations in Latin America due to climate change.
However, some indigenous people refused to move to the mainland and still live on the island despite the risk. The rising sea level in Guna Yala “is a huge concern” and “President José Raúl Mulino’s instructions are to give priority” to this issue, said Environment Minister Juan Carlos Navarro in response to an AFP inquiry. Most of the tiny islands of Guna Yala – also known as San Blas – are just 50 cm to one meter above sea level, and scientists warn that in the coming years the waters will rise about 80 centimeters in that archipelago.
However, Navarro acknowledged that a new relocation of the indigenous population to the mainland is “difficult” because their history and culture are linked to the sea. Most of the inhabitants of Guna Yala live off fishing, tourism and the production of cassava and plantain, which they harvest in the mainland area of that indigenous region. Furthermore, the region has its own internal laws and regulations, so any decision by the Panamanian government must obtain the consent of the local authorities. “It is an ongoing process, culturally it is very difficult for them, but we will continue working” with the indigenous authorities to “take the necessary measures to guarantee their well-being,” Navarro said.
