Indigenous Guna People of Panama Find Ways to Adapt and Escape Rising Seas

How Climate Change is Impacting the Lives of the Guna People and How They Are Adapting

The Guna people, an indigenous community in Panama, face the threat of rising seas and increased flooding due to climate change. Here is a closer look at how climate change impacts the Guna people and how they adapt to these changes.

Background

The Guna people have lived on the Caribbean coast of Panama for hundreds of years, relying on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods. However, in recent years, they have seen increased flooding and erosion due to rising seas and more severe weather events, such as hurricanes.

This has put their homes and crops at risk and forced them to find new ways to adapt to the changing climate.

Adapting to Rising Seas

The Guna people have taken several steps to adapt to rising seas and increased flooding. One strategy has been to build elevated homes on stilts, allowing them to stay above the water during floods.

They have also started to plant mangroves, which can help protect against erosion and absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. Additionally, they have created floating gardens, which allow them to grow crops even during floods.

The Guna people have also worked to preserve their cultural traditions, such as their traditional medicine practices and art forms, passed down through generations. This is important as these traditions help strengthen their community and resilience in the face of climate change.

Working with Scientists

The Guna people have also partnered with scientists and researchers better to understand the impacts of climate change on their community and develop adaptation strategies.

For example, they have worked with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to study the impact of sea level rise on their coastal ecosystem and with the United Nations Development Programme to develop a climate change adaptation plan.

Implications for Other Indigenous Communities

The Guna people's experience in adapting to climate change's impacts has important implications for other indigenous communities around the world.

Indigenous communities are often among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their reliance on natural resources and their close connection to the land.

However, as the Guna people have shown, indigenous communities have a deep knowledge of their environment and are often well-positioned to develop innovative strategies for adaptation.

Final Thoughts

The experience of the Guna people highlights the importance of working with indigenous communities to address climate change's impacts. By valuing their knowledge and expertise and working in partnership with them, we can develop more effective strategies for adaptation and build more resilient communities.

As the impacts of climate change continue to be felt around the world, we must learn from the experiences of communities like the Guna people and take action to address this global challenge.