east africa and indian ocean islands
Indian Ocean islands vary greatly in shape, size, geological composition, and ethnic history. They are comprised of some of the smallest territories, as well as one of the largest island nations. These islands are located off the East coast of continental Africa on the Western Indian Ocean to the South Asia.
Migrations and colonization have shaped the unique cultural identities of these islands. Some islands, such as the Comoros, were first settled by Polynesians and Melanesians navigators in the 6th century A.D. Others were settled by Malays (Madagascar and Seychelles). Then, successive migrations/settlements from African people (such as the Swahili in the Comoros), and Arabs (Maldives, Seychelles) established grounds in these islands, long before the first European navigators who reached these islands around the 16th century. As a result, these islands present a very diverse culture.
The main economic activities are tourism, fishing and farming. Thanks to the landscape, tourism is one of the key components of their economies. In the Seychelles, for example, tourism accounts for 70% of hard currency earnings, while in the Maldives the sector represents 28% of the GDP. In addition to tourism, agriculture is also a prominent activity. For example, sugar plantations in Mauritius represent 90% of all agricultural lands. What is more, because of their close contact to the sea, fishing is one of the pillars of the economy and livelihood of these societies. In the Maldives, for instance, fishing represents 15% of the GDP and employs 33% of the work force.
Biodiversity
The islands of the Indian Ocean are characterized by a high-level of genus-and-family-level endemism, and host extremely diverse natural vegetation.vThe islands, thanks mainly to the presence of Madagascar, have a diverse plant population with 13,000 vascular species, 90% of which are endemic. For example, out of the 8 Baobab species in the world, 6 are located in Madagascar. They are also home to a low in a diversity but highly endemic population of birds, with 300 species (60% of which are endemic). However, because of increased human impacts such as increased population, or increased deforestation, many of these bird species (55) are threatened. Also highly endemic are the 150 species of mammals, with a 90% endemism. The region is considered the world leader in primate endemism, thanks to Madagascar where 72 lemurs and 15 endemic bat species are present.
The biodiversity of these islands is at risk because of their isolation: their fauna and flora evolved in a isolated and sheltered environment, and became vulnerable to outside threats. The introduction of invasive species is decimating the biodiversity of these islands. What is more, the combined effects of increased agricultural activities, tourism, population growth, or sea level rise put the biodiversity of these ecosystems at risk.
Impacts of Climate Change
There are many issues that threaten Indian Ocean islands. Climate change will trigger various negative impacts, one of which is sea level rise which could have dramatic effects on atoll nations such as the Maldives. The Republic of Maldives, an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, will be partially submerged by the end of the century. This speculation is based on the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimate that sea levels to rise between 18-59 centimeters by 2100. Since 80 percent of the Maldives' 1,200 islands are about 1 meter above sea level, they will be the first in the region to be submerged.
For the leaders of island countries, global warming/climate change is not a new issue. It has been two decades since October of 1987, the day that Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom called for urgent action on climate change in his address to the United Nations. In speaking to the General Assembly, he claimed that his countries, more specifically the low-lying islands, are threatened by rising sea level. In his words, his country of 311,000 people was "an endangered nation."30 With most of its 1,196 tiny islands barely 2 meters above sea level, the Maldives' survival would be in jeopardy with even a 1-meter rise in sea level in the event of a storm surge. More recently, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said 80 of his country's 1,200 islands had experienced tidal surges in the last few years. "Never in our documented history have so many islands been affected to such an extent. These surges were a grim reminder of the devastating tsunami of 2004 and a clear warning of future disasters," Gayoom said at a recent conference on development and climate change in Lisbon.