renowned for their pristine beaches and spectacular diving. But global
warming is a dark cloud on their horizon. (Responsible travel)."
Geographical 74.5 (May 2002): 88(5). Student Resource Center - Gold.
Thomson Gale. Centennial High School (MD). 12 Dec. 2006
The Maldives are a "chain of about 1,192 small coral islands arranged
in a series of clusters, or atolls." They are located in the southern
part of the Indian Ocean, about 600km south of Sri Lanka. They stretch
up from the equator to cover a vertical strip of about 750 km. Only 202
of the 1,192 islands are inhabited and "99% of the country's territory
is made up by the sea." "There are no rivers or mountains and the
islands lie low in the ocean, averaging only about a meter above sea
level." Not only are the actually islands beautiful but the aquatic
life is breathtaking. There are reefs and lagoons filled with an
assortment of brilliant fish. "The waters of the Maldives contain
three-quarters of the world's reef-fish species and are world famous
for diving."
As far back as 1992 after the Rio de Janero's Earth Summit, President Gayoom
warned people of the effects of global warming. He said that "his
country could well disappear some time during the 21st century." The
Maldives along with many other small islands are very worried about the
rising sea level. Scientists also believe that global warming can lead
to increases in maximum tropical clyclone wind speed and lower the
central pressures, which can lead to more damaging storms. These storms
can destroy not only the islands but the coral reefs. The Maldives
coral reef suffered much damage in 1988 after the EL Nino storm and the effects of global warming could do much more damage.
The danger to the Maldives is real and the islanders are doing their part to help. At the Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa every night they host a "'Fish Talk.' It is a serious 45 minute lecture given by the resorts marine biologist and aimed at raising awareness of the underwater environment, including the creation of coral and the recent bleaching phenomenon." The Alliance of Small Island Nations (AOSIS) has helped recognize the plight of the Maldives and many other small islands. The Four Seasons Hotel has also launched a "adopt a reef ball project." This project aims to help the damaged reef around the resort. At the Soneva Fushi resort on the Baa Atoll, the owners were so concerned about maintaining the natural habitat that they asked their guests to cycle through therain forest to their cottages and they recycled everything that they could. Many resorts are big on recycling and shops refuse to stock endangered corals and shells. The truly sad part about this situation is that the Maldives islands are paying the price of global warming even though
they had little cause for global warming. The Maldives have no heavy industries and they own fewer than 3,000 carbondioxide-emitting vehicles. The natives may loose everything and a precious part of our earth is slipping away.
My Questions:
1. What else can be done to help prevent the Maldives from slipping away?
2. What can we do to help the Maldives?
3. How are the rising sea levels due to global warming effecting other areas such as the Inner Harbor in Baltimore?
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