Sustainable Indigenous Livelihoods
How the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge
Helps Island Communities
The Island-Ocean Connection Challenge is a direct response to the triple threats of failing ocean health, climate change, and biodiversity extinction. Island communities are disproportionately impacted by these crises, both ecologically and economically.
Island communities are immensely vulnerable to storm surges, flooding, and erosion. Restored coastal habitats such as barrier islands, coral reefs, and wetlands can increase climate resilience and offer greater protection to islands and their people.
In addition, these communities face depleting land and ocean resources. This can result in pervasive, long-term harm to local industries and can negatively impact tourism. Restoring island-marine ecosystems and conserving biodiversity can significantly boost local economies and expand livelihoods.
Small-scale fisheries benefit from thriving island-marine ecosystems and sustainable tourism.
Shifting the power dynamics for island nations
Western conservation efforts often create artificial boundaries between land and ocean science, thereby limiting the efficacy of management programs. But Indigenous Peoples and local communities have long understood and managed their natural resources in the context of island-to-sea connections.
The Island-Ocean Connection Challenge prioritizes key local partnerships to ensure an integrated, unified approach that is tailored to each island. We aim to inspire and galvanize communities with new economic opportunities in ocean-based technologies, renewable energies, aquaculture, and many other ‘blue growth’ sectors.
The Challenge partners are committed to establishing a new era of locally led initiatives that promote island communities’ ecological and economic resilience.
Seabirds play a vital role in thriving island-marine ecosystems. Greater biodiversity increases resilience to climate change and safeguards natural sustainability for all lifeforms.
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