Maldives Flashcards
Maldives
1190 islands
600000 tourists/yr
Flattest country - <3m ASL
Male (capital) - 33% population
Stresses
Storm surges (worse if corals die)
Lack of freshwater
Fish species migrate away with temp rise
Inundated by 2085 (3m SLR)
Security
Erosion and saltwater incursion makes subsistence agriculture difficult
Sea defences don’t work - less tourism
Population
High density = high drugs and crime (desperate communities)
Migrants move to Canada - brain drain — impacts R&D
Funding
Left commonwealth
20% cut in defences
Protection
97% threatened by SLR
Only Male and Hulhimale protected (2 main islands)
Priorities
Urban areas and tourism have high priority - expensive ‘Maldives Paradise’ Traditional income (fishing) and mangroves are low priority - struggle
Solutions
Mangrove swamps maintained by communities (Japan) GEF Grants (Global Environmental Facility) - to islanders to develop organic farming (food)
Unfairness
Maldives contribute <0.2% global emissions
US + EU + China = 53%
Workforce but vulnerability
Population of 345000 - large workforce (economic benefit)
By vulnerable to loss of livelihood and culture - only know fishing
Struggle with language barriers - employment difficulties
Status
Environmental refugee status means women/children need security (food)
Coastal Pop. can’t relocate inside since highest point in 2.6m - IDPs
Tourism
Main source of income
SLR will take away funding for planning/relocation
Long term
CC is long term (55cm SLR by 2100)
Create ‘Preparedness program’
Adaptation - buying land from Australia
Relocation - India (similar culture) but high Pop. density and deprivation
Refugee problems
Wealthy nations (Germany) can’t sustain large numbers (conflict) -ve stereotypes - subject to prejudice Can take adv - N African migrants in ME war
Economic migrants
Looking for better opportunities
1930s - Great Depression — economic migrants to California
