Panama is Preparing to Evacuate First Island Due to Rising Sea Levels

In a poignant and historic moment, the tiny island of Gardi Sugdub off Panama’s Caribbean coast is on the verge of a dramatic transformation. 

About 300 families, generations of Gunas who have cherished their lives dedicated to the sea and tourism, are preparing to leave their homes for the mainland next week. 

This move, while voluntary, is largely driven by the escalating threat of rising sea levels, a stark reminder of the tangible impacts of climate change.

The Gunas of Gardi Sugdub are the first of 63 communities along Panama’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts that government officials and scientists expect will be forced to relocate in the coming decades. 

For many residents, the move brings a mix of sadness and resignation. 

Nadín Morales, a 24-year-old resident, encapsulates the sentiment of many: “We’re a little sad because we’re going to leave behind the homes we’ve known all our lives, the relationship with the sea, where we fish, where we bathe, and where the tourists come. But the sea is sinking the island little by little.”

Gardi Sugdub, one of approximately 50 populated islands in the Guna Yala territory, is a mere 400 yards (366 meters) long and 150 yards (137 meters) wide. 

Every year, particularly during the strong winds of November and December, seawater floods the narrow dirt streets, infiltrating homes and disrupting daily life. 

The Gunas have tried to combat the encroaching waters by reinforcing the island’s edges with rocks, pilings, and coral, but the relentless rise in sea levels has outpaced their efforts.

Evelio López, a 61-year-old teacher, highlights the cultural and economic challenges of the relocation. 

“Leaving the sea, the economic activities that we have there on the island, and now we’re going to be on solid ground, in the forest. We’re going to see what the result is in the long run,” López said. 

The new site on the mainland, developed by the government at a cost of $12 million, features concrete houses and paved streets carved out of lush tropical jungle just over a mile from the port.

Steven Paton, director of the Smithsonian Institution’s physical monitoring program in Panama, describes the relocation as “a direct consequence of climate change through the increase in sea level.” 

He warns that the Gunas will likely need to abandon all of their islands by the end of the century or earlier, as the islands are only a half-meter above sea level on average.

This impending move is not an isolated event. Around the world, coastal communities are grappling with similar challenges. 

From the coastal villages in Mexico to the lagoon city of Venice in Italy, rising sea levels and stronger storms are forcing governments to take drastic action. 

A recent study by Panama’s Environmental Ministry, supported by universities in Panama and Spain, estimates that by 2050, Panama could lose about 2.01% of its coastal territory due to rising sea levels. 

The government projects that relocating the 38,000 inhabitants at risk in the short- and medium-term will cost approximately $1.2 billion.

The cultural shift for the Guna people is profound. Braucilio de la Ossa, the deputy secretary of Carti, the port facing Gardi Sugdub, reflects on the lifestyle changes that await those relocating to the mainland. 

“Now that they will be in the forest, their way of living will be different,” he said. 

The move marks not just a change in geography, but a fundamental shift in the daily rhythms and traditions of life that have defined the Guna people for over 200 years.

As the residents of Gardi Sugdub prepare to leave their cherished island, they carry with them a legacy of resilience and adaptability. 

Their story is a microcosm of a global narrative, a poignant illustration of how climate change is reshaping lives and communities around the world. 

The world watches as Panama takes this historic step, hoping that the move will pave the way for a sustainable future for the Guna people and serve as a wake-up call to the urgent need for climate action.