TUVALU
Location:
- 9 small islands in the pacific ocean.
- north-east of Australia
Background:
- in 2005, population was 10,500, none more than 5m above sea level
- The economy relies on semi-subsistence farming&fishing, as well as foreign aid.
Risks:
- The low lying islands are being flooded more frequently due to sea level rises of 1-2m per year.
- Coral atolls flood from below, pushing salt water up through the ground, poisoning pulaka pits where Tuvalians grow starchy tubers for food.
- Poor coastal management & building materials
- Road bulding has tripped the region of much vegetation
Options:
- Relocate - in 2001, NZ agreed to accept 75 Tuvalians per year, possibly untill 2050.
- Change behaviour - in 2000, Tuvalu joined UN to bring it's climate change plight to the worlds attention.
- Modify the threat - Beach mining regulated to reduce erosion risk.
- Prevent the loss - Salt-tolerant crops to replace traditional pulaka.
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