Islands Disappearing: Guinea-Bissau Coastline Vanishes

The Bijagos archipelago, a fragile UNESCO World Heritage site off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, faces an existential threat as rising sea levels relentlessly consume its shores. Coastlines are retreating by up to 7 meters annually, a dramatic change from decades past, leaving permanent settlements and vital wildlife habitats increasingly vulnerable.

This ecological crisis impacts an estimated 25,000 inhabitants who rely on the archipelago's artisanal fisheries and sacred sites. Critically, the islands are home to numerous species, including sea turtles, hippos, sharks, and manatees, all imperiled by the encroaching ocean and mangrove loss, exacerbating biodiversity concerns.

While climate change and human factors like urbanization and waste disposal are cited as causes, support from international organizations is deemed insufficient. Local authorities and NGOs are working on mitigation, but a significant increase in government investment is urgently needed to protect this unique natural and cultural heritage from disappearing entirely.