Rising Sea Levels Force Panamanian Offshore Community to Mainland

Residents of Gardi Sugdub, a low-lying island off Panama's Caribbean coast, began relocating to new homes in Nuevo Carti as rising sea levels threatened their community. About 300 families moved to the mainland, carrying their belongings by boat and truck to their new community, Isberyala.

The Guna families quickly noticed a difference in their new environment. "Here it’s cooler," said Augusto Walter, 73, as he set up his hammock in their new two-bedroom house. The new homes, constructed by the government, offered more space and comfort compared to the cramped, overheated conditions on the island.

Despite the relocation, not all residents have left Gardi Sugdub. Around 200 people from seven or eight families chose to stay on the island for now. Among them is Augencio Arango, a boat motor mechanic, who preferred the relaxed island life despite the government's encouragement to move due to climate change.

The transition to Isberyala marked a significant change for the Guna community, previously living on one of the 50 populated islands in the Guna Yala territory. Rising sea levels and stronger storms, fueled by climate change, increasingly threatened their island homes, with water often flooding streets and homes during November and December.

Ernesto López, 69, a Guna leader, moved to Isberyala with his wife, Digna, and looked forward to the additional space and comfort. Like many families, they faced initial challenges, such as the lack of electricity and water, but were optimistic about their new living conditions. López mentioned that they would occasionally return to the island to maintain a connection with their ancestral home.

While the new community of Isberyala offers better living conditions and protection from rising sea levels, the transition highlights the broader challenge facing many coastal communities. Government officials and scientists expect that 63 communities along Panama's Caribbean and Pacific coasts will eventually need to relocate due to the impacts of climate change.