Gardi Sugdub: The Americas' disappearing island

For over a century, the Indigenous Guna community has resided on a minuscule Caribbean island known as Gardi Sugdub. However, they are now on the brink of becoming some of the first climate change refugees in the Americas. Gardi Sugdub, part of the San Blas archipelago, is situated approximately 1,200m off Panama's northern coast. It is home to nearly 1,300 members of the Guna community.

The Guna people initially settled on these islands in the 1500s, seeking refuge from Spanish colonisation. They also faced challenges such as disease, venomous snakes, and conflicts with other Indigenous groups. However, the rising sea levels are now forcing the residents of Gardi Sugdub to consider abandoning their island home. The island is gradually disappearing under the sea. The residents have observed an increase in flooding, particularly during the November-to-February rainy season.

According to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the sea around Gardi Sugdub is rising at a rate of 3. 4mm per year, more than double the rate during the 1960s. Given that most of the Guna-inhabited islands are only 0. 5m to 1m above the water, it is almost certain that all the islands will have to be abandoned by 2100. The same ocean that has historically preserved the Guna's culture, language, and colourful mola clothing is now threatening its very existence. However, the residents of Gardi Sugdub have a contingency plan. They have been collaborating with the Panamanian government since 2010 to develop a new village on the mainland, known as Isber Yala.